Translation, Cross-cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Farsi Version of NIH Task Force's Recommended Multidimensional Minimal Dataset for Research on Chronic Low Back Pain.

STUDY DESIGN: Translation and cultural adaptation of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Task Force's minimal dataset.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate validity and reliability of the Farsi version of NIH Task Force's recommended multidimensional minimal dataset for research on chronic low back pain (CLBP).

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Considering the high treatment cost of CLBP and its increasing prevalence, NIH Pain Consortium developed research standards (including recommendations for definitions, a minimum dataset, and outcomes' report) for studies regarding CLBP. Application of these recommendations could standardize research and improve comparability of different studies in CLBP.

METHODS: This study has three phases: translation of dataset into Farsi and its cultural adaptation, assessment of pre-final version of dataset's comprehensibility via a pilot study, and investigation of the reliability and validity of final version of translated dataset. Subjects were 250 patients with CLBP. Test-retest reliability, content validity, and convergent validity (correlations among different dimensions of dataset and Farsi versions of Oswestry Disability Index, Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire, Fear-Avoidance Belief Questionnaire, and Beck Depression Inventory-II) were assessed.

RESULTS: The Farsi version demonstrated good/excellent convergent validity (the correlation coefficient between impact dimension and ODI was r = 0.75 [P < 0.001], between impact dimension and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire was r = 0.80 [P < 0.001], and between psychological dimension and BDI was r = 0.62 [P < 0.001]). The test-retest reliability was also strong (intraclass correlation coefficient value ranged between 0.70 and 0.95) and the internal consistency was good/excellent (Chronbach's alpha coefficients' value for two main dimensions including impact dimension and psychological dimension were 0.91 and 0.82 [P < 0.001], respectively). In addition, its face validity and content validity were acceptable.

CONCLUSION: The Farsi version of minimal dataset for research on CLBP is a reliable and valid instrument for data gathering in patients with CLBP. This minimum dataset can be a step toward standardization of research regarding CLBP.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.