Development and validation of an ICF-based new scale-Atilim Kinesiophobia Scale: A methodological study

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Psychology
• Health Sciences

Background:

• Kinesiophobia, the fear of movement, is linked to disability by limiting physical activity.
• Assessing kinesiophobia is crucial for managing conditions that increase disability risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a scale for assessing kinesiophobia based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) multidimensional structure.
• To create a reliable and valid tool for measuring kinesiophobia in patients experiencing musculoskeletal pain.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 367 subjects to develop the Atilim Kinesiophobia Scale (AKS) in Turkish.
• Content validity, reliability, and construct validity (convergent and divergent) were assessed using established scales like the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia-17 and Visual Analog Scale.
• The final AKS version was refined to 4 factors and 14 items based on psychometric analysis.

Main Results:

• The AKS demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.862) and convergent validity, with significant correlations with the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia-17 (r=0.478).
• Divergent validity was supported by insignificant correlations with the Visual Analog Scale (r=0.019).
• The final 14-item AKS showed good internal validity.

Conclusions:

• The Atilim Kinesiophobia Scale (AKS) is a valid and reliable ICF-based instrument for assessing kinesiophobia in patients with acute or chronic musculoskeletal pain.
• The AKS can be utilized in clinical settings to evaluate fear of movement, potentially improving patient management.
• Further research is recommended to establish the validity and reliability of the AKS in diverse linguistic and cultural contexts.