Study design: A prospective study.
Objective: The aim of this study was to develop and assess the internal reliability and structure validity of a simplified Chinese version of the Neck Bournemouth Questionnaire (SC-NBQ) for evaluation of patients with nonspecific neck pain (NP) in mainland China.
Summary of background data: The NBQ has been cross-culturally translated into several languages with good internal consistency and construct validity to evaluate low back pain and NP. However, the NBQ has been not translated or validated for Chinese-speaking patients.
Methods: The SC-NBQ was developed by standard cross-translation procedures, and completed by 106 patients with nonspecific NP, along with other self-reported questionnaires, including the Neck Disability Index (NDI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Functional Rating Index (FRI), and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). The internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity of the SC-NBQ were determined.
Results: The NBQ was successfully translated into Chinese. All patients completed the SC-NBQ twice, and the other instruments. Score distribution demonstrated that there was no floor or ceiling effects of the SC-NBQ. Cronbach α coefficient (α = 0.89) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC = 0.97) showed good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. A good construct validity was shown by strong correlation with HADS (r = 0.75), NDI (r = 0.82), FRI (r = 0.90) and SF-36 physical functioning (r = 0.75), and bodily pain (r = 0.75) subscales.
Conclusion: The SC-NBQ demonstrated good internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity, and may be used for the evaluation of NP in Chinese-speaking patients.
Level of evidence: 2.