Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the South African Pain Catastrophizing Scale (SA-PCS) among patients with fibromyalgia

Date
2012-11
Authors
Morris, Linzette D.
Grimmer-Somers, Karen A.
Louw, Quinette A.
Sullivan, Michael J.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
Abstract
Background: Pain catastrophization has recently been recognized as a barrier to the healthy development of physical functioning among chronic pain patients. Levels of pain catastrophization in chronic pain patients are commonly measured using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). Objective: To cross-culturally adapt and validate the South African PCS (SA-PCS) among English-, Afrikaans- and Xhosa-speaking patients with fibromyalgia living in the Cape Metropole area, Western Cape, South Africa. Methods: The original PCS was cross-culturally adapted in accordance with international standards to develop an English, Afrikaans and Xhosa version of the SA-PCS using a repeated measures study design. Psychometric testing included face/content validity, internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha-α), test-retest reliability (intraclass coefficient correlations-ICC), sensitivity-to-change and cross-sectional convergent validity (by comparing the adapted SA-PCS to related constructs). Results: The cross-culturally adapted English, Afrikaans and Xhosa SA-PCS showed good face and content validity, excellent internal consistency (with Chronbach’s α = 0.98, 0.98 and 0.97 for the English, Afrikaans and Xhosa SA-PCS, as a whole, respectively), excellent test-retest reliability (with ICC’s of 0.90, 0.91 and 0.89 for the English, Afrikaans and Xhosa SA-PCS, respectively); as well as satisfactory sensitivity-to-change (with a minimum detectable change of 8.8, 9.0 and 9.3 for the English, Afrikaans and Xhosa SA-PCS, respectively) and cross-sectional convergent validity (when compared to pain severity as well as South African versions of the Tampa scale for Kinesiophobia and the revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire). Conclusion: The SA-PCS can therefore be recommended as simple, efficient, valid and reliable tool which shows satisfactory sensitivity-to-change and cross-sectional convergent validity, for use among English, Afrikaans and Xhosa-speaking patients with fibromyalgia attending the public health sector in the Western Cape area of South Africa.
Description
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
The original publication is available at http://www.hqlo.com/
Keywords
Fibromyalgia, Chronic pain -- Patients -- Psychology, Pain catastrophizing, Pain -- Psychological aspects, South African Pain Catastrophizing Scale (SA-PCS)
Citation
Morris, L.D., Grimmer-Somers, K.A., Louw, Q.A. & Sullivan, M.J. 2012. Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the South African Pain Catastrophizing Scale (SA-PCS) among patients with Fibromyalgia. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 10(137):1-13, doi:10.1186/1477-7525-10-137.