Measurement Properties of the Modified Spinal Function Sort (M-SFS): Is It Reliable and Valid in Workers with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain?

Purpose To analyze the reliability and validity of a picture-based questionnaire, the Modified Spinal Function Sort (M-SFS). Methods Sixty-two injured workers with chronic musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) were recruited from two work rehabilitation centers. Internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach’s alpha. Construct validity was tested based on four a priori hypotheses. Structural validity was measured with principal component analysis (PCA). Test–retest reliability and agreement was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and measurement error with the limits of agreement (LoA). Results Total score of the M-SFS was 54.4 (SD 16.4) and 56.1 (16.4) for test and retest, respectively. Item distribution showed no ceiling effects. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.94 and 0.95 for test and retest, respectively. PCA showed the presence of four components explaining a total of 74% of the variance. Item communalities were >0.6 in 17 out of 20 items. ICC was 0.90, LoA was ±12.6/16.2 points. The correlations between the M-SFS were 0.89 with the original SFS, 0.49 with the Pain Disability Index, −0.37 and −0.33 with the Numeric Rating Scale for actual pain, −0.52 for selfreported disability due to chronic low back pain, and 0.50, 0.56–0.59 with three distinct lifting tests. No a priori defined hypothesis for construct validity was rejected. Conclusions The M-SFS allows reliable and valid assessment of perceived self-efficacy for work-related tasks and can be recommended for use in patients with chronic MSD. Further research should investigate the proposed M-SFS score of <56 for its predictive validity for non-return to work.