French-Canadian Adaptation and Validation of the Swiss Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire for Patients With Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Abstract

Study Design. An observational prospective study. Objective. The study objective was to assess the reliability and validity of the French-Canadian version (FCSSSQ) of the Swiss Spinal Stenosis questionnaire (SSSQ). Summary of Background Data. The SSSQ is a validated disease-specific tool developed to assess pain, function, and satisfaction with care in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Methods. The French-Canadian translation and adaptation of the SSSQ was completed following a four-stage approach: (1) forward translation; (2) synthesis; (3) expert committee review; and (4) testing of the questionnaire prefinal version. Psychometric properties were subsequently determined in patients who had undergone decompressive surgery for degenerative LSS. Patients completed the SSSQ adapted version, the Numerical Rating Scale, and the Oswestry Disability Index. Test-retest reliability was assessed with weighted Kappa score and intraclass correlation coefficient. Construct validity was evaluated using the Spearman correlation coefficient and responsiveness with the mean standardized response as well as the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Floor and ceiling effects and internal consistency were also evaluated. Results. Twenty-five and 50 patients were included for the adaptation and validation processes, respectively. The test-retest reliability of the FCSSSQ total score was excellent [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.996; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.938–0.982]. High Spearman correlation coefficients were also found between the total FCSSSQ score and the leg pain Numerical Rating Scale (NRS, 0.801), back pain NRS (0.705), and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI, 0.825) scores. External responsiveness analysis was satisfactory with an AUROC of 0.875 (95% CI 0.744–1.0). The lowest FCSSSQ possible score was observed in five patients (10%), whereas no patients reported the highest possible score. The Cronbach α coefficient ranged from 0.810 to 0.945 indicating good to excellent internal consistency. Conclusion. The French-Canadian version of the SSSQ is a reliable and valid questionnaire consistent with the original English version. This new version will help French-speaking clinicians and scientists document changes in condition and treatment satisfaction in patients with LSS. Level of Evidence: 2

Subjective and Objective Measures of Symptoms, Function, and Outcome in Patients With Degenerative Spine Disease

“…The SSM is specific to symptoms and functional deficits characteristic of neurogenic claudication. For LSS, excellent generalizability has been proven by consistent results across multicultural studies .…”

“…Translations are available in German and English. There are published adaptations in Spanish, Chinese, French, Polish, Norwegian, Iranian, Korean, Slovenian, and other languages, which showed satisfactory to excellent reliability and validity .…”

PROMIS Scores Should Not be Used in Isolation to Measure Outcomes in Lumbar Stenosis Patients

“…1 It is estimated that by 2021, there will be >2.4 million people in the United States suffering from symptomatic LSS, and it affects up to 47% of adults >60 years of age. 1,30 PROs have not traditionally been incorporated into outpatient orthopedic clinics due to their inefficiency. 15 The development of efficient PROs would allow clinicians to demonstrate the value of surgical interventions, improve clinical management, educate patients, and set appropriate postoperative expectations.…”

Effectiveness of an exercise-based prehabilitation program for patients awaiting surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis: a randomized clinical trial

“…As such, in the main trial, we included the 30 s sit-to-stand 34 and the timed up and go 35 tests that allowed for the measurement of progress regarding balance, sit to stand, and short-distance walking capacities. In addition, in response to the participants comment that the ODI did not completely capture their daily challenges we also added the French Swiss Spinal Stenosis questionnaire 36 to measure LSS-related disability. These newly collected outcomes are available for the latest recruited participants only (15 and 13 from the intervention and control group respectively).…”