Pain Res Manag. 2026;2026(1):e6203306. doi: 10.1155/prm/6203306.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most prevalent pain conditions worldwide and a major contributor to disability. Although numerous epidemiological studies have investigated LBP, heterogeneity in pain definitions and assessment indicators has limited comparability across studies. A brief and reproducible questionnaire incorporating core LBP indicators commonly used in pain epidemiology may facilitate consistent assessment of LBP occurrence and impact in population-based research.
METHODS: We proposed a brief low back pain questionnaire (B-LBPQ) designed to assess the occurrence and characteristics of LBP in epidemiological studies. The B-LBPQ consists of seven items covering current LBP, LBP during the past 12 months, lifetime experience of LBP, pain duration, and pain-related interference with daily activities. A cross-sectional validation study was conducted among 783 Japanese welfare workers aged 20-74 years (mean age: 41.9 years) undergoing routine health checkups. Construct validity was examined by comparing questionnaire-based LBP classifications with scores on the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ). Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Test-retest reliability over a 2-week interval was evaluated among 595 participants using kappa statistics, prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted kappa (PABAK), and weighted kappa coefficients.
RESULTS: Construct validity was supported by significantly higher RDQ scores among participants reporting LBP compared with those without LBP (all p < 0.001). For items with multiple response categories, significant differences and ordered trends in RDQ scores were observed across response categories (all p for trend < 0.001). Internal consistency was acceptable (Cronbach’s α = 0.87). Test-retest reliability ranged from substantial to almost perfect, with PABAK values of 0.70-0.85 for dichotomous items and weighted kappa coefficients of 0.65-0.81 for items with three or more categories.
CONCLUSIONS: The B-LBPQ demonstrated initial reliability and construct validity in Japanese welfare workers and may be useful for epidemiological assessment of LBP. However, further validation in diverse populations and settings is required.
PMID:42638610 | DOI:10.1155/prm/6203306
