Toward a Specific Outcome Instrument for Spinal XXXX : How to Measure Function and Health.

@entity1 @entity130
STUDY DESIGN: Validation study. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the most valid, reliable, and comprehensible response scale for spinal @entity130 @entity1 to compare their current level of function and health with their preinjury state. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: In the context of a main project of the AOSpine Knowledge Forum @entity130 to develop a disease-specific outcome instrument for adult spinal @entity130 @entity1 , the need to identify a response scale that uniquely reflects the degree to which a spine @entity130 @entity1 has returned to his or her preinjury state is crucial. METHODS: In the first phase, 3 different question formats and 3 different response formats were investigated in a questionnaire, which was administered twice. Based on the results of the first phase, in the second phase, a modified questionnaire was administered once to a second group of @entity1 to investigate 5 different response formats: 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale-11, 0-100 Numeric Rating Scale-101, Visual Analogue Scale, Verbal Rating Scale, and Adjective Scale. All @entity1 were interviewed in a semistructured fashion to identify their preferences. Multiple statistical analyses were performed: test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and discriminant validity. RESULTS: Twenty eligible @entity1 were enrolled in the first phase and 59 in the second phase. The initial phase revealed the highest preference for 1 specific question format (60.0% and 86.7% after the first and second administration of the questionnaire, respectively). The second phase showed the Verbal Rating Scale as the most preferred response format (35.6%). The semistructured interviews revealed that overall, a subgroup of @entity1 preferred a verbal response format (42.4%), and another group of @entity1 preferred a numerical response format (49.1%). The statistical analysis showed good to excellent psychometric properties for all formats. CONCLUSION: The most preferred question and response formats were identified for use in a disease-specific outcome instrument for spinal @entity130 @entity1 . LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.
