Reliability, validity, and responsiveness of a Canadian French adaptation of the pain self-efficacy questionnaire (PSEQ)

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to translate the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ) into Canadian French (PSEQ-F) and to evaluate its validity, reliability and responsiveness in a French-Canadian sample of patients with persistent rotator cuff related shoulder pain (RCRSP).

Methods: Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the original English version of the PSEQ into Canadian French were performed according to standard procedures. Thereafter, 78 adults with RCRSP completed the PSEQ-F on three occasions: baseline, 2 days later to evaluate the reliability and 6 weeks later to evaluate responsiveness.

Results: Cross-cultural adaptation was performed without problems with content or language. The PSEQ-F was found to be reliable (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient = 0.96; Minimal Detectable Change = 3 points [5%]), valid (moderate correlations with an abbreviated version of Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand [QuickDASH] and Brief Pain Inventory [BPI] Questionnaires) and responsive (Standardized Response Mean = 0.96; Effect Size = 0.81; Minimal Clinically Important Difference = 6 points [10%]).

Conclusion: The PSEQ-F is a reliable, valid and responsive questionnaire that can be used to assess pain self-efficacy in French-speaking individuals with RCRSP. Further studies should use a self-efficacy-specific Global Rating of Change scale to estimate its responsiveness more thoroughly.Implications for rehabilitationHigher levels of pain self-efficacy have been associated with increased odds of symptom resolution in those with persistent rotator cuff related shoulder pain (RCRSP).The Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ) has been identified as the most frequently used tool by clinicians to assess pain self-efficacy in patients at risk of developing persistent musculoskeletal pain.The Canadian French version of the PSEQ (PSEQ-F) is a reliable, valid and responsive questionnaire that can be used to assess pain self-efficacy in French-speaking individuals with RCRSP.