Search

Objectives: The 13-item pain catastrophizing scale (PCS) is the most commonly used measure of pain catastrophizing. A validated Finnish version of the PCS has previously been unavailable. The objectives were to translate the original English version of the PCS into Finnish (PCS-FI), then to evaluate (i) structural validity of the PCS-FI with a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), (ii) internal reliability with Cronbach's alpha, Omega, and Omega hierarchical, (iii) convergent validity with measures of well-being, quality of life, sleep quality, symptoms of central sensitization, and anxiety, and (iv) known-groups validity between participants with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and pain-free controls., Methods: The translation process was performed with established guidelines. The PCS-FI was psychometrically validated using 92 participants with CLBP and 53 pain-free controls., Results: Structural validity with CFA supported a bifactor solution. However, low reliability was found for the three specific factors ( ω h ranging from 0.14 to 0.18) compared to the general factor ( ω h = 0.88) suggesting that only the total score should be used. Convergent validity analysis showed satisfactory correlations and medium effect sizes with the other patient-reported outcome measures. Participants with CLBP had significantly higher total PCS-FI scores than pain-free controls., Conclusions: The PCS-FI appears to be a valid and reliable instrument for assessing pain-related catastrophizing in Finnish-speaking populations. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee of the Northern Savo Hospital District, identification number 2131/2022, on the 31st of January 2022., (© 2024 the author(s), published by De Gruyter.)

Objectives: To create reference values for the general Finnish population using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-FIN), to study gender differences in the TSK-FIN, to assess the internal consistency of the TSK-FIN, to estimate the prevalence of high levels of kinesiophobia in Finnish men and women, and to examine the association between kinesiophobia and leisure-time physical activity and the impact of co-morbidities on kinesiophobia., Methods: The study population comprised 455 men and 579 women. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire about their socio-demographic factors, leisure-time physical activity, co-morbidities and kinesiophobia., Results: The mean TSK-FIN score was significantly higher for men (mean 34.2, standard deviation (SD) 6.9) compared with women (mean 32.9, SD 6.5), with an age-adjusted p = 0.004 for the difference between men and women. Cronbach's alpha was 0.72, indicating substantial internal consistency. Men over 55 years of age and women over 65 years of age had a higher (p < 0.001) TSK score compared with younger people. There was a significant (p < 0.001) inverse association between kinesiophobia and leisure-time physical activity among both sexes. The presence of cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disease or a mental disorder was associated with a higher TSK-FIN score compared with the absence of the aforementioned disorders., Conclusion: We present here the reference values for the TSK-FIN. The reference values and prevalence among the general population may help clinicians to define the level of kinesiophobia among patients. Disorders other than musculoskeletal diseases were associated with kinesiophobia, which should be noted in daily practice.

The aim of the present study was to develop a reliable assessment of pain behaviour performed during the execution of a range of functional assessment measures. For the initial reliability study 18 subjects (consecutive referrals) were assessed. Subjects were observed and videotaped during a variety of physical tasks and demonstrations of pain behaviour were recorded; the videotapes were scored by two independent observers on two occasions. The relationships between pain behaviour, distress and physical function and impairment were also investigated in a group of 51 patients with chronic back pain. Self-report of disability and pain intensity were assessed using the Finnish version of Oswestry disability questionnaire and the pain visual analogue scale (VAS). Depression and somatic perception were assessed using the modified Zung and modified somatic perception questionnaire. The Tampa scale for kinesiophobia was used to evaluate fear of movement and (re)injury. The results of the intra- and interobserver reliability study demonstrate good to excellent levels of agreement. The exception was facial expression (kappa 0.29), which was excluded from the final instrument. There was a strong correlation between pain behaviour and subjective pain report and disability (p < 0.01). The correlations between total pain behaviour and performance of physical function tasks is striking (p < 0.01). Subjective disability was analysed by means of multiple regression analysis. Pain measured on the VAS was the most important variable explaining 36% of the variance, pain behaviour and pain combined explained 48% of the variance for self reported disability. In conclusion, this functional videobased assessment of pain behaviour is a reliable measure of pain behaviour. The total scores for pain behaviour correlate with tasks that involve the back; tests involving upper limbs were not affected. This test is suitable for the assessment of those with pain problems specifically involving the back. Furthermore, in the group studied pain and pain behaviour were the two most important determinants of self-reported disability.