Reliability, Minimum Detectable Change and Construct Validity of the Functional Rating Index in Italian Patients with...

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Clinical Assessment
• Pain Management

Background:

• Chronic non-specific low back pain (CLBP) significantly impacts quality of life.
• Accurate assessment tools are crucial for effective CLBP management.
• The Functional Rating Index (FRI) is a potential instrument for evaluating CLBP patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability and construct validity of the Italian version of the Functional Rating Index (FRI).
• To determine if the FRI is a suitable tool for Italian-speaking individuals with CLBP.
• To enhance the assessment and clinical management of CLBP in this population.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study with 75 Italian-speaking CLBP patients.
• Assessed internal consistency (Cronbach's α) and test-retest reliability (ICC_2,1).
• Examined construct validity via correlations with disability (RMQ, ODI), pain (NRS), and quality of life (SF-36) measures.

Main Results:

• High internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.88) and test-retest reliability (ICC_2,1 = 0.86).
• Minimum Detectable Change (MDC) was 18.05 (approx. 20% of total score).
• Strong correlations observed with disability measures (RMQ, ODI) and moderate with pain intensity (NRS).

Conclusions:

• The Italian FRI is a reliable and valid measurement tool for CLBP.
• Recommended for clinical practice and research applications in Italian-speaking CLBP patients.
• Facilitates improved assessment and management strategies for chronic low back pain.