Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and analysis of the measurement properties of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the spinal cord injury pain instrument

STUDY DESIGN: A questionnaire validity study. OBJECTIVES: To perform the translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and analysis of the measurement properties of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Spinal Cord Injury Pain Instrument (SCIPI) for the screening of neuropathic pain in spinal cord injury. SETTING: Neurorehabilitation hospital in north-eastern Brazil. METHODS: We performed the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the SCIPI. The pre-final version was applied in 10 patients with spinal cord injury sequelae and pain report. The final version of the SCIPI was applied to 100 patients. The measurement properties evaluated were structural validity, test-retest reliability, internal consistency, construct validity, and diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS: None of the items in the pre-final version of the SCIPI had any comprehension problems. The one-dimensional structure of the final version of the SCIPI was adequate. There were significant correlations between the SCIPI and the Douleur Neuropathique 4 (rho = 0.546), as well as adequate test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.89, kappa ≥ 0.79), internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha ≥ 0.76), and diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve = 0.860). CONCLUSION: The Brazilian version of the SCIPI presents measurement properties that are suitable for measuring neuropathic pain related to spinal cord injury.