Cross-cultural adaptation of the Revised Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire into Brazilian Portuguese language

Adaptação transcultural do Questionário Neurofisiológico da Dor revisado para língua portuguesa do Brasil

ABSTRACT

Objective

To perform a cross-cultural adaptation of the Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire for the Brazilian population (NPQ-BR).

Methods

A translation and cross-cultural adaptation study were conducted in 11 stages according to standard procedures. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed. The internal consistency of the questionnaire was assessed using Cronbach’s Alpha test (α).

Results

Four translators, six experts, twenty-one patients and ten physiotherapists participated in the study. The NPQ-BR was obtained after seven versions. The expert committee adapted four out of twelve items (item 1, 3, 11, and 12) to adapt the content of the instrument to the Brazilian context. The pre-test phase showed good internal consistency (α = 0.63). The comparison of the correct answers of the questionnaire between the groups (physical therapist group mean = 7.0 ± 1.7; patient group mean = 3.7 ± 2.1; p < 0.01) confirmed the discriminative validity of the NPQ-BR.

Conclusion

The Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire was cross-culturally adapted into a Brazilian context and can be used to assess the level of neurophysiological knowledge of pain of Brazilian patients. The interpretation of the results of the NPQ-BR must be taken with caution due to the absence of a robust validation methodology of the instrument.

Pain; rehabilitation; validation studies; cognitive neuroscience; psychometrics