Reliability and validity of Chinese version of brace questionnaire for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A cross-sectional study

There is an increasing concern about the impact of bracing on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). However, up to now, few multidimensional questionnaires on this impact are available in China. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of Brace Questionnaire (C-BrQ). The BrQ was translated from Greek into Chinese with proper cross-cultural adaptation. An observational, cross-sectional study in Chinese patients with AIS was conducted to measure the temporal stability of C-BrQ using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The effects of ceiling and floor were evaluated and the reliability was verified by examining the internal consistency. The C-BrQ domains were compared with the domains in Chinese version of Scoliosis Research Society-22 Outcomes Questionnaire (C-SRS-22) using Pearson correlation coefficient to assess the concurrent validity. A total of 208 patients were included in the study. The results of test-retest reliability for each dimension of C-BrQ were desirable. The floor or ceiling effects were not demonstrated in the C-BrQ and C-SRS-22. Satisfactory internal consistency was found in all the C-BrQ domains. Most C-BrQ and C-SRS-22 domains showed satisfactory correlation coefficients, except when vitality and school activity in C-BrQ were compared with self-image, mental health, and management satisfaction in C-SRS -22, respectively. C-BrQ is reliable in evaluating the QoL of AIS patients receiving brace treatment.