Validity and reliability of the Norwegian version of the Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire in people on sick leave

Alexander Tingulstad*, Maurits W. Van Tulder, Tarjei Rysstad, Anne Therese Tveter, Jonathan C. Hill, Margreth Grotle

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: The Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire (MSK-HQ) is a recently developed generic questionnaire that consists of 14 items assessing health status in people with musculoskeletal disorders. The objective was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the MSK-HQ into Norwegian and to examine its construct validity and reliability in people on sick leave with musculoskeletal disorders. Methods: A prospective cohort study was carried out in Norway on people between 18 and 67 years of age and sick leave due to a musculoskeletal disorder. The participants were recruited through the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration during November 2018–January 2019 and responded to the MSK-HQ at inclusion and after four weeks. Internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach’s alpha, and structural validity with a factor analysis. Construct validity was assessed by eight “a priori” defined hypotheses regarding correlations between the MSK-HQ and other reference scales. Correlations were analyzed by Spearman’s- or Pearson’s correlation coefficient and interpreted as high with values ≥ 0.50, moderate between 0.30–0.49, and low < 0.29. Reliability was tested with test–retest, standard error of measurement (SEM) and smallest detectable change (SDC). Results: A total of 549 patients, mean age (SD) 48.6 (10.7), 309 women (56.3%), were included. The mean (SD) MSK-HQ sum scores (min–max 3–56) were 27.7 (8.2). Internal consistency was 0.86 and a three-factor structure was determined by factor analysis. Construct validity was supported by the confirmation of all hypotheses; high correlation with HRQOL, psychosocial risk profile, and self-perceived health; moderate correlation with physical activity, self-perceived work ability, and work presenteeism; and low correlation with the number of sick days. The test–retest reliability was good with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.83 (95% CI, 0.74–0.89), SEM was 2.3 and SDC 6.5. Conclusions: The Norwegian version of the MSK-HQ demonstrated high internal consistency, a three-factor structure, good construct validity and good test–retest reliability when used among people on sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders.

Original languageEnglish
Article number191
JournalHealth and Quality of Life Outcomes
Volume19
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors thank the Norwegian Welfare and Labor Administration for cooperation and for providing data on sick leave.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).

Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

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