Challenges of Measuring Self-Reported Exposure to Occupational Biomechanical Risk Factors Amongst People with Low Literacy Engaged in Manual Labour: Findings from a Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Investigation in an African Population with Chronic Low Back Pain

Chinonso Nwamaka Igwesi-Chidobe*, Isaac Olubunmi Sorinola, Benjamin Chukwuma Ozumba, Emma Louise Godfrey

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose: Occupational biomechanical factors are implicated in the aetiology and progression of low back pain (LBP). This study cross-culturally adapted and psychometrically investigated the Occupational Risk Factor Questionnaire (ORFQ) in a low literate Nigerian Igbo population with chronic LBP. Methods: Forward and back translation of the original ORFQ by clinical and non-clinical translators was followed by an expert committee review. The adapted ORFQ was pre-tested amongst rural Nigerian adults with chronic LBP using cognitive think-aloud interviewing. Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) and test–retest reliability (unweighted and linear weighted k statistic for item-by-item agreement, and intra-class correlation coefficient—ICC) were investigated amongst 50 rural and urban Nigerian dwellers with chronic LBP. Spearman’s correlation and regression analyses were conducted with the Igbo-ORFQ, and measures of disability [World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0), Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), Back performance scale (BPS)], pain intensity [Eleven-point box scale (BS-11)] and social support [Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS)], to test construct validity with 200 rural Nigerian dwellers with chronic LBP. Results: Cross-cultural adaptation highlighted difficulty conceptualising and concretising exposure to biomechanical risk factors. Item-by-item agreement, internal consistency (α = 0.84) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC = 0.83) were good. Some unexpected direction of associations between the biomechanical components of the Igbo-ORFQ, and disability, pain intensity, and social support prohibits establishment of construct validity. Conclusion: Prospective studies comparing the Igbo-ORFQ to other measures of exposure to occupational biomechanical risk factors are required to establish the construct validity of the Igbo-ORFQ.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)847-862
Number of pages16
JournalJOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL REHABILITATION
Volume34
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024

Keywords

  • Cross-cultural adaptation
  • Low back pain
  • Low literacy
  • Occupational biomechanical risk factors
  • Psychometric evaluation
  • Rural and urban Nigeria

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Challenges of Measuring Self-Reported Exposure to Occupational Biomechanical Risk Factors Amongst People with Low Literacy Engaged in Manual Labour: Findings from a Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Investigation in an African Population with Chronic Low Back Pain'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this