Arabic Version, Validity and Reliability of the Modified Start Back Screening Tool for Patients with Non-Specific Neck Pain

Background: Modified STarT Back Screening Tool (mSBST) was validated in Dutch and Thai versions for adults with non-specific neck pain to provide risk stratification groups, but no Arabic version was developed on mSBST. Purposes: to translate mSBST into Arabic version, test validity and test reliability on patients with non-specific neck pain. Methods: translation of modified STarT Back into Arabic version at Cairo University Center for Foreign Languages and Specialized Translation, Faculty of Arts, Cairo University. A number of 135 non-specific neck patients of both males and females aged 18 and older from different out-patients clinics in Egypt were recruited. All patients completed questionnaires (Numeric pain rating scale NPRS-AR, Neck disability index NDI-AR, Pain catastrophizing scale- PCS-AR, Tampa scale of kinesiophobia TSK-AR, EuroQol -5D-5L-AR, General perceived effect scale GPE, Modified STarT Back mSBST–AR) with an interval time of 3 days. Results: Arabic version of mSBST demonstrated excellent face and content validity. Correlations between total score of mSBST-AR and other questionnaires ( NPRS-AR, NDI-AR.PCS-AR,TSK-AR,EQ-5D-AR,GPE) were moderate positive significant correlation (p < 0.001). Correlations between psychosocial sub-score and questionnaires were moderate positive significant correlation (p < 0.001). Cronbach's alpha for mSBST-AR was 0.747 that means mSBST-AR had acceptable internal consistency and showed excellent test-retest reliability. The psychosocial sub-score showed excellent test-retest reliability. Conclusion: Arabic version of mSBST is valid and reliable and can be used in both research and clinical settings to classify individuals with non-specific neck pain in Egypt.