Reliability and Validity of the Adapted Chinese Version of the Satisfaction of Adolescents with Postoperative Pain Management – Idiopathic Scoliosis (SAP-S) Scale

Abstract

Study Design

A prospective study.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the internal reliability and structure validity of an adapted simplified Chinese version of the Satisfaction of Adolescents with Postoperative pain management – idiopathic Scoliosis (SAP-S) scale in mainland China.

Summary of Background Data

Pain management is a major issue for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients undergoing posterior spinal fusions. There is a lack of valid scales for evaluating patients’ satisfaction with postoperative pain management. The SAP-S was proven to be a valid and reliable measure in English and French.

Methods

The SAP-S was translated into Chinese according to the internationally recognized guidelines. A total of 95 AIS patients undergoing posterior fusion surgery completed the CSAP-S, along with other self-reported questionnaires, including the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) questionnaires. The internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and construct validity of the CSAP-S were determined.

Results

The SAP-S was successfully translated into Chinese. All patients completed the CSAP-S twice and the other instruments. The CSAP-S had good internal consistency and test–retest reliability with Cronbach’s alpha coefficient measuring 0.895 and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) measuring 0.97. Elimination of any one item did not result in a value of Cronbach’s alpha of <0.80. A good construct validity was shown by good correlation with bodily pain (r=0.883, p=0.004) and social functioning (r=0.786, p=0.002) domains of SF-36 and pain (r=0.752, p=0.001) and satisfaction with management (r=0.746, p=0.005) domains of SRS-22.

Conclusion

The CSAP-S demonstrated good internal consistency, reliability, and construct validity, and may be used for the evaluation of AIS patients’ satisfaction with postoperative pain management in mainland China.