Translation into Arabic and validation of the pain self-efficacy questionnaire for chronic low back pain: a cross-sectional study

Purpose: To translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ-Ar). Methods: Patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) (n = 119) and healthy controls (n = 41) were included in this cross-sectional study. The English PSEQ was adapted to Arabic via forward and backward translations. Content validity was examined using the content validity index (CVI), based on ratings from 10 experts. The internal consistency and test-retest reliability were evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha (α) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC_2,1), respectively. The structural construct validity was investigated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The minimum detectable change with 95% confidence (MDC₉₅) and standard error of measurement (SEM) were also calculated. Results: The participants reported no major language issues in completing the PSEQ-Ar. The content validity was acceptable (CVI for all items = 0.64). The internal consistency (α = 0.931) and test-retest reliability (ICC_2,1=0.968) were excellent. The CFA demonstrated that the PSEQ-Ar is a unidimensional questionnaire. The MDC₉₅ and SEM for the total score of the PSEQ-Ar were 5.93 (9.89%) and 2.52, respectively. Conclusion: The PSEQ-Ar is a valid and highly reliable tool for assessing confidence in Arabic-speaking patients with CLBP.