Linzette Morris

Qatar University, Qatar

Abstract Title: Translation, cultural adaptation and validation of the Swahili Pain Catastrophizing Scale among survivors of torture and war trauma in Kenya

Biography: Dr Linzette Morris is the Head of Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Qatar. She has a BSc in Physiotherapy (University of the Western Cape, South Africa) and MSc Physiotherapy, MSc in Clinical Epidemiology and PhD (Stellenbosch University, South Africa). Her research interests include musculoskeletal disorders, rehabilitation, pain sciences, virtual reality, health systems, refugee health, epidemiology, human/economic value of rehabilitation, etc.). She has presented at various international conferences and has over 40 publications in numerous international peer-reviewed journals, and three book chapters.

Research Interest: Objective: To translate, cross-cultural adapt and test the nomological validity, structural validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, sensitivity-to-change and feasibility of the Swahili version of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (Swa-PCS) among survivors of torture/war trauma living with chronic pain in Kenya. Methods: Translation and cultural adaptation of the original PCS for the Swahili-speaking survivors of torture/war trauma population in Kenya was undertaken. Following this process, a validation study was conducted on the newly-adapted instrument, to ascertain the psychometric properties (nomological validity, structural validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, sensitivity-to change, and ceiling and floor effects). Results: Correlations between pain catastrophization and fear-avoidance behaviour measures were significant (r=.538, p<0.01). Ceiling effects were 42-48% with no floor effects. Standard errors of measurement values were between .938 and 3.38. Minimal detectable change values were between 2.17 and 7.82. Internal consistency was satisfactory to good, for the whole and subsections respectively (range α = .693-.845). Magnification had the lowest α. Test-retest reliability was also satisfactory to good (range ICC= .672-.878). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the Swa-PCS had three factors which explained the majority of the variance. Root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) and comparative fit index (CFI) were calculated for goodness-of-fit assessment, and were .18 and 0.83, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that the adapted Swa-PCS displayed overall satisfactory to good internal consistency, test-retest reliability and sensitivity-to-change. In addition, the Swa-PCS scores were related to fear-avoidance behaviour scores as expected (nomological validity). Structural validation of the Swa-PCS requires further investigation. The Swa-PCS was also described as easy to use, and can therefore be recommended for use among Swahili-speaking survivors of torture/war trauma population living in Kenya. Further testing of the psychometric properties of the Swa-PCS is however warranted to confirm these recommendations.