Validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire

Low back pain (LBP) is a major musculoskeletal cause of functional disability worldwide. Psychosocial factors are essential in its progression; however, the assessment of psychosocial dimensions in non-Western contexts, including Korea, remains understudied. The Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire (OMPSQ) is widely used to evaluate psychosocial risk factors associated with chronic pain, yet its Korean version has not been fully validated. This study aimed to translate the OMPSQ into Korean and examine its psychometric properties to confirm its suitability for assessing psychosocial factors in Korean patients with LBP. This methodological study followed standardized guidelines for cross-cultural adaptation, including forward-backward translation and expert panel review. Ethical approval was obtained, and 163 adult patients with LBP were recruited from 4 physiotherapy clinics in South Korea. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to assess construct validity, while concurrent validity was examined using correlations with the numerical rating scale, the STarT Back Screening Tool (SBST), and the Korean version of the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach α. Confirmatory factor analysis of the Korean OMPSQ demonstrated that the model fit indices were acceptable (χ2 = 282.44, root mean square error approximation  = 0.06, comparative fit index = 0.92, goodness-of-fit index  = 0.86). Concurrent validity and reliability were supported by significant correlations between the OMPSQ subscales and related instruments, including numerical rating scale, STarT Back Screening Tool, and Korean version of the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (correlation coefficients: 0.50-0.62, P < .001) and high internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.84). The Korean version of the OMPSQ showed satisfactory validity and reliability, retaining the original 5-factor structure, and may be used to assess psychosocial factors in Korean patients with LBP in primary physiotherapy contexts within South Korea. Further studies are needed to extend its validation across diverse cultural and clinical settings.