Original Research

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the STarT back screening tool in isiZulu

Peta-Ann Schmidt, Vaneshveri Naidoo
South African Journal of Physiotherapy | Vol 76, No 1 | a1402 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajp.v76i1.1402 | © 2020 Peta-Ann Schmidt, Vaneshveri Naidoo | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 14 October 2019 | Published: 01 June 2020

About the author(s)

Peta-Ann Schmidt, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Vaneshveri Naidoo, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract

Background: Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) is one of the most prevalent conditions in the world. Identifying patients at risk for developing chronic NSLBP is key to effective treatment. The STarT back screening tool is a validated, prognostic screening tool identifying subgroups of NSLBP patients, and the risk factors associated with each subgroup, guiding treatment in the primary care of NSLBP.

Objectives: To translate the English version of the STarT back screening tool into isiZulu and determine the content validity and reliability of the translated tool.

Method: Translation was completed in four phases - forward translation and synthesis, backward translation and expert review. Validation included expert review for content validity and testing of the translated tool on 30 patients, determining test-retest reliability, internal consistency and usability.

Results: Minor linguistic differences were addressed during the translation phase. Item content validity was excellent for relevance (1.00), satisfactory (0.94) for clarity, simplicity and ambiguity, with scale-content validity acceptable (0.955). Spearman’s correlation coefficient for test-retest reliability was acceptable (0.73). Cronbach’s alpha for internal consistency for the total score for test 1 and test 2 was 0.68 and 0.77, and for the psychosocial scale 0.62 and 0.77 respectively. Overall, 33% found the tool very easy to understand and 40% found it very easy to complete.

Conclusion: The isiZulu STarT back screening tool showed excellent content validity, acceptable reliability and acceptable internal consistency.

Clinical implications: Use of the isiZulu tool in local clinics and private practices can improve clinical decision-making and treatment outcomes for isiZulu-speaking patients with NSLBP.


Keywords

STarT back screening tool; isiZulu; NSLBP; validity; reliability; translation

Metrics

Total abstract views: 2532
Total article views: 3175

 

Crossref Citations

1. Factor Structure, Validity, and Reliability of the STarT Back Screening Tool in Italian Obese and Non-obese Patients With Low Back Pain
Emanuele Maria Giusti, Giorgia Varallo, Alessandra Abenavoli, Gian Mauro Manzoni, Luca Aletti, Paolo Capodaglio, Gianluca Castelnuovo, Alberto Maggiani
Frontiers in Psychology  vol: 12  year: 2021  
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.740851