Development and Validation of the iDI: A Short Self-Rating Disability Instrument for Low Back Pain Disorders.
Cornelia Rolli Salathé1, Achim Elfering1, Alexander Tuschel2
1University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Global Spine Journal
|May 17, 2017
Summary
A new questionnaire, the iDI, effectively assesses low back pain disability. This short, valid tool is suitable for routine quality assessment and tablet use.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Health Outcomes Research
Background:
- Low back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide.
- Accurate assessment of low back pain-related disability is crucial for effective management and quality assessment.
- Existing assessment tools may be lengthy or less practical for routine clinical use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a concise, reliable, and valid questionnaire for assessing low back pain-related disability.
- To introduce the iPad-based Disability Index (iDI) as a practical tool for clinical settings.
Main Methods:
- The iDI was developed through literature review and theoretical considerations.
- Pilot studies and an international multicenter study with 514 patients were conducted for validation.
- The iDI was programmed for tablet use (iPad) to assess clinical practicability.
Main Results:
- The final iDI consists of 8 questions with a 5-point Likert scale, assessing various disability aspects.
- The iDI demonstrated high reliability and validity, comparable to the Oswestry Disability Index.
- The iDI proved suitable for data collection via tablet computer.
Conclusions:
- The iPad-based Disability Index (iDI) is a short, valid, and practical instrument.
- The iDI facilitates routine quality assessment of low back pain-related disability.
- Its tablet-based format enhances usability in clinical practice.
