Validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the patient's joint perception question in patients undergoing knee arthroplasty

Abstract

Purpose

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) aims to alleviate pain and restore function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. While the Forgotten Joint Score (FJS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) are established measures of patient satisfaction and functional outcomes after TKA, they may not directly capture the patient's subjective perception of the joint itself. The FJS was used to assess concurrent validity, as it reflects the degree to which patients are unaware of their artificial joint, which is related to joint perception. The patient's joint perception (PJP) question offers a simplified alternative to evaluate joint awareness.

Methods

This prospective observational study included patients who underwent TKA between 2018 and 2023. An Arabic version of the PJP (Ar-PJP) question was translated using a forward-backwards translation process. Participants completed the PJP, FJS, and reduced WOMAC at two time points, three weeks apart. Statistical analyses assessed validity and reliability using Pearson's correlation coefficient.

Results

A total of 100 participants were included in the study. The mean PJP score was 28.9 (standard deviation [SD]: 13.7), and the mean WOMAC score was 46.1 (SD: 17.8). A moderate negative correlation was found between the Ar-PJP score and FJS (r = −0.683; p < 0.001), A moderate negative correlation was found between the Ar-PJP score and FJS (r = −0.683; p < 0.001), while the correlation with WOMAC was weak and non-significant (r = −0.088; p = 0.382), supporting discriminant validity.

Conclusions

The Ar-PJP is a valid and reliable tool for assessing patients' perceptions post-TKA. As a single-question measure, it simplifies evaluations and enhances patient care in Arabic-speaking populations.

Level of Evidence

Level II.