The Dutch version of the Forgotten Joint Score: test-retesting reliability and validation

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Health Outcomes Research

Background:

• Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are crucial for evaluating arthroplasty effectiveness.
• The Forgotten Joint Score (FJS) assesses the ability to disregard a prosthetic joint during daily activities.
• A validated Dutch version of the FJS is needed for local clinical practice and research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To translate the Forgotten Joint Score (FJS) into Dutch.
• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Dutch FJS, including internal consistency and test-retest reliability.
• To assess the correlation with existing PROMs and ceiling effects.

Main Methods:

• Translation and cultural adaptation of the FJS into Dutch.
• Cross-sectional study involving 159 patients (74 total hip arthroplasty, 85 total knee arthroplasty).
• Internal consistency assessed using Cronbach's alpha; test-retest reliability using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC).
• Correlation with the WOMAC index and evaluation of ceiling effects.

Main Results:

• The Dutch FJS demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.957) and excellent test-retest reliability (ICC=0.943).
• A significant positive correlation (r=0.751) was found between the Dutch FJS and the WOMAC.
• Low ceiling effects (3.1%) were observed, indicating the score captures a wide range of patient experiences.

Conclusions:

• The Dutch FJS is a reliable and valid patient-reported outcome measurement for patients undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty.
• The validated Dutch FJS effectively measures the patient's ability to mentally disregard their artificial joint.
• This tool enhances the assessment of treatment outcomes in arthroplasty patients within the Dutch-speaking population.