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Challenges of measuring self-reported exposure to occupational biomechanical risk factors amongst people with low literacy engaged in manual labour: findings from a cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric investigation in an African population with chronic low back pain

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Igwesi-Chidobe, Chinonso Nwamaka, Sorinola, Isaac Olubunmi, Ozumba, Benjamin Chukwuma and Godfrey, Emma Louise (2024) Challenges of measuring self-reported exposure to occupational biomechanical risk factors amongst people with low literacy engaged in manual labour: findings from a cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric investigation in an African population with chronic low back pain. Journal of occupational rehabilitation. pp. 1-16. ISSN 1573-3688

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Abstract

Occupational biomechanical factors are implicated in the aetiology and progression of low back pain (LBP). This study cross-culturally adapted and psychometrically investigated the Occupational Risk Factor Questionnaire (ORFQ) in a low literate Nigerian Igbo population with chronic LBP. Forward and back translation of the original ORFQ by clinical and non-clinical translators was followed by an expert committee review. The adapted ORFQ was pre-tested amongst rural Nigerian adults with chronic LBP using cognitive think-aloud interviewing. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and test-retest reliability (unweighted and linear weighted k statistic for item-by-item agreement, and intra-class correlation coefficient-ICC) were investigated amongst 50 rural and urban Nigerian dwellers with chronic LBP. Spearman's correlation and regression analyses were conducted with the Igbo-ORFQ, and measures of disability [World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0), Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), Back performance scale (BPS)], pain intensity [Eleven-point box scale (BS-11)] and social support [Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS)], to test construct validity with 200 rural Nigerian dwellers with chronic LBP. Cross-cultural adaptation highlighted difficulty conceptualising and concretising exposure to biomechanical risk factors. Item-by-item agreement, internal consistency (α = 0.84) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC = 0.83) were good. Some unexpected direction of associations between the biomechanical components of the Igbo-ORFQ, and disability, pain intensity, and social support prohibits establishment of construct validity. Prospective studies comparing the Igbo-ORFQ to other measures of exposure to occupational biomechanical risk factors are required to establish the construct validity of the Igbo-ORFQ. [Abstract copyright: © 2024. The Author(s).]

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