Validity of fibromyalgia survey questionnaire (2016) assessed by telephone interview and cross-cultural adaptation to Brazilian Portuguese language

Abstract

Background: To verify the validity of the 2016-revised Fibromyalgia Survey Questionnaire (FSQ) by telephone interview compared to self-administration and to produce a valid version of FSQ in Brazilian Portuguese language. Methods: The Brazilian version of FSQ was produced following the recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation. Validity of Brazilian FSQ self-administration was assessed by checking agreement of its results with fibromyalgia diagnosis according the 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. Reproducibility and validity of FSQ by telephone were assessed by comparing its results with the previous FSQ self-administration. Results: A Brazilian Portuguese version (FSQ-Brazil) was produced. FSQ-Brazil had good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha between 0.73 and 0.94). Agreement between the results obtained by self-administration of FSQ-Brazil and by telephone interview was substantial or almost perfect for almost all questions about pain sites and all questions about other somatic symptoms (Cohen's kappa higher than 0.6). There were small but significant bias toward higher scores of widespread pain index and fibromyalgia severity scale in the telephone interview compared to self-administration. Fibromyalgia definition by self-administration and telephone interview with FSQ-Brazil both revealed substantial agreement with the diagnosis based on ACR 1990 criteria (Cohen's kappa 0.62 and 0.65; respectively). Conclusions: FSQ-Brazil demonstrated good internal consistency, reproducibility and validity both by selfadministration and by telephone interview. However, caution must be taken with the interpretation of quantitative scores of widespread pain index and symptoms severity scale, which slightly differed according the method (selfadministration or interview) in our study.

Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool (FiRST): Arabic Translation and Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation

“…The study was cross-sectional and had the benefit of comparison with a control group. However, the internal consistency was not assessed, and it was calculated by another Brazilian study with a Cronbach’s alpha of > 0.73 [ 49 ]. The Turkish version of the FiRST [ 48 ] was subject to translation and validation with a very similar methodology to the one used by us.…”

Measurement properties of the Brazilian online version of the Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool (FiRST)

“…Regarding diagnostic criteria for FM, two scales are currently used (WPI and SSS) proposed by Wolfe et al in 2011 [ 31 ], updated in 2016 [ 3 ], and adapted for telemedicine in the Brazilian population in 2019 [ 32 ], whose reliability and internal consistency have already been established (κ > 0.6; Cronbach’s alpha > 0.73). This occurred because the authors verified the criteria for the diagnosis of FM presented in previous classifications (such as the use of trigger points) should focus more efforts on the patient’s self-report via three observations: (1) presence of pain in at least four of the five body regions; (2) presence of symptoms with similar severity for at least three months; (3) absence of chronic conditions and/or diseases that justify the symptoms - we confirmed these criteria in all patients who had a clinical diagnosis of FM.…”

“…The Brazilian version of the FiRST® was validated to be applied online, which can turn the screening process even easier and faster, allowing any healthcare professional to identify and refer those patients more adequately. Although it has limitations in terms of scope, the advent of validation of online instruments is a scientific and technological advancement in the health area, because it guarantees the simultaneous screening of several patients and optimization of professional’s time [ 32 ].…”