French validation of two different (10 and 19 items) Return To Work Self-Efficacy Scale (RTWSE) on a chronic low back pain population

Objective French validation of two different (10 and 19 items) Return To Work Self-Efficacy Scale (RTWSE). RTWSE are self-questionnaires designed to evaluate workers’ beliefs with chronic low back pain of their current ability to return to work according to 4 domains: relations with supervisor and co-workers, pain management, and activity restriction. Material/patients and methods The first step consisted of translation/back translation and cultural adaptation according to the validated methodology. The second stage was a prospective validation on 60 patients with chronic low back pain who filled out the 2 RTWSE scales (10 and 19 items). The following data were collected: pain, job's stress and satisfaction (Visual Analog Scale) and Disability (Quebec), physical activity (IPAQ) and the levels of anxiety and depression (HAD). A test/retest procedure was performed 3 and 21 days later. The statistical analyses focused on acceptability, internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha and Principal Component Analysis), test-retest reproducibility (concordance coefficients), external validity (correlation coefficients), correlation between the two scales (Spearman's correlation). Results The RTWSE scale is a culturally acceptable version for French patients with chronic low back pain. The Cronbach's alpha was 0.89 for the 10-item scale and 0.90 for the 19-item scale. Reproductibility was correct (concordance coefficients: 0.92 for 10-item scale and 0.86 for 19-item scale). External validity and responsiveness to change were good. Correlation between the 10-item scale and the 19-item scale was correct (Spearman's correlation: 0.69). Discussion – conclusion The use of a rigorous methodology allowed the validation of the RTWSE scale in the French language. This tool can be used in routine practice and clinical research for evaluating the return to work within a chronic low back pain population.