Content Validity of a Questionnaire to Assess the Knowledge of Low Back Pain of College Students

Author: Sumedha Bhatia and Barkha Khurana

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Abstract

Low back pain (LBP) is defined as discomfort or pain in the lower back region, which is located below the ribcage and above the buttocks. It is a common condition caused by a number of factors such as poor posture, muscle strain or injury, spinal problems, or degenerative conditions. Low back pain can be mild to severe, acute (lasting only a short time), or chronic (lasting for months or longer). LBP is a serious problem for global health that affects millions of people. 80% of people are predicted to suffer LBP at some point in their lives, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), making it one among the top causes of disability globally. LBP is the top cause of missed workdays and the second most frequent reason for doctor visits in the United States alone. Consequently, the goal of this study was to create and validate a questionnaire to evaluate college students' understanding of Low back. The challenges this study faces include ensuring enough coverage of the concept of interest, developing acceptable response formats, overcoming linguistic and cultural hurdles, and minimising response biases. It was challenging to conduct the necessary reliability, validity, and responsiveness testing needed for questionnaire validation. The study has two important phases -instrumental design and judgmental evidence. The questionnaire was validated using quantitative (content validity) technique with the panel of 12 subject expert using the content validity index (CVI). A second round of validation was sent for the items with the lowest scores (I-CVI <.80) in the preliminary version of this tool which revealed moderate content validity of individual questions. The tool has 30 questions that test your understanding of Anatomy, physiology, general facts, risk factors, causes, sign, symptoms as well as diagnosis, management, prevention and complication. A structured 30-item questionnaire with acknowledged content validity was produced, with a CVI score of at least 0.80 for each item. Utilizing an iterative process, the questionnaire's development and validation showed strong item-content validity for assessing college students' knowledge of Low back pain. Additionally, it enhances the degree of knowledge held by college students in relation to low back pain, identifies knowledge gaps, offers suggestions for prevention and management, and has implications for policymakers, educators, and healthcare professionals.

Keywords

Content Validity, CVI score, Low Back Pain, Questionnaire, College Students

Conclusion

The purpose of this study was to create and evaluate a questionnaire to test college students' understanding of low back pain. We started with a thorough study of the literature to identify existing questionnaires as well as essential topics and constructs linked to low back pain in college students. Through this procedure, we were able to construct a questionnaire that would accurately capture the key information regarding low back pain. Assuring content validity is one of the biggest issues in questionnaire development. To overcome this difficulty, we invited input on the questionnaire's content from a group of professionals in the field of low back pain. The questions were examined by the panel for relevance, clarity, and completeness. The expert panel's feedback was utilised to further improve the questionnaire, ensuring that it appropriately tested college students' understanding of low back pain. The experts acknowledged that the questions were comprehensible and relevant to college students, and that the questionnaire covered the appropriate subject areas. An exhaustive and iterative procedure that included input from the literature and expert panels was used to construct a questionnaire to test college students' knowledge of low back pain. The findings of our study indicate that the questionnaire has strong content validity and is a viable and reliable tool for determining this population's knowledge of low back pain. In next studies and educational initiatives aimed at this community, we advise using this questionnaire.

References

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How to cite this article

Sumedha Bhatia and Barkha Khurana (2023). Content Validity of a Questionnaire to Assess the Knowledge of Low Back Pain of College Students. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(4): 526-532.