Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Swedish STarT Back Screening Tool

Abstract Objectives: The STarT Back Screening Tool (SBT) is a newly validated questionnaire that identifies modifiable risk factors of poor prognosis in patients with low back pain (LBP). The aim of this study was to cross-culturally adapt the SBT into Swedish and to test its concurrent validity in patients with LBP in primary healthcare. Methods: The SBT was translated according to established guidelines. Concurrent validity was tested on 62 patients by comparing the SBT with the Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire, short form (ÖMPSQ-short). Analysis of correlations between the instruments' total scores and between psychosocial sub-score of SBT and ÖMPSQ-short was performed using Spearman's rank correlation. Results: A translation of the SBT into Swedish required minor semantic adaptation until the final version was acceptable. Correlation between the SBT and the ÖMPSQ-short was large with r = 0.61 (SBT total with ÖMPSQ-short total score) and r = 0.60 (SBT psychosocial subscale with ÖMPSQ-short total score). Conclusion: The original SBT was successfully translated into Swedish. Correlation between the Swedish SBT and ÖMPSQ-short was large. The present study supports the use of the Swedish SBT for further clinical practice and research.