The Pain Self-Fifficacy Questionnaire: Validation of an Abbreviated Two-Item Questionnaire

Background: The Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ) is a validated tool to assess pain self-efficacy and is strongly correlated with disability. Reducing the number of questions of the original PSEQ to screen for self-efficacy will result in more efficient screening and less burden for the patient. Objective: The aim of this study;vas to prospectively validate the shortened version of the PSEQ. Method: Overall, 249 new and follow-up patients visiting our outpatient orthopedic hand surgery clinic were prospectively enrolled and asked to complete the PSEQ, short version of the Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand, and 2-question version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) depression questionnaires. The patients completed the questionnaires in the office and online 2 weeks after their visit. At the follow-up visit, the PSEQ was substituted with the 2-question version of the Pain Self:Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ-2). The factors associated with higher short forms of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand scores were investigated in a bivariate and multivariable analysis. Paired t-test was used to compare the mean values of the short and long questionnaires at enrollment. Results: There was a large correlation (r = 0.90; p < 0.001) between the original PSEQ and the PSEQ-2 at enrollment The Cronbach alpha were comparable for the PSEQ and the PSEQ-2 (alpha = 0.95 compared with alpha = 0.91). There was a small but statistically significant difference between the average scores of the PSEQ and PSEQ-2 (4.4 vs 4.8: p <0.001), For the shortened PSEQ, a smaller but still large correlation was found with the short,forms of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand r = 0.71 vs r = 0.61). Both the PSEQ-2 and the PSEQ were the most important predictors of the short forms of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand scores. A substantial test-retest reliability was found for the PSEQ-2 (0.66). Conclusion: The PSEQ-2 can be used to quickly assess patients' pain self-efficacy.