Validation of the Japanese Version of the Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire for Japanese Patients With Lumbar Spinal Diseases

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Abstract
This study was designed to validate a translated version of the Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). To validate the Japanese version of the RMDQ (JRMDQ) for Japanese patients with low back pain (LBP) and/or lumbar spinal diseases (LD). To assess the effect of interventions, a scale that directly assesses disabilities in patients with LBP and/or LD and that can be used internationally needs to be established in Japan. To promote the JRMDQ, the RMDQ was translated into Japanese and then back-translated. In four hospitals, 320 patients with LBP and/or LD were examined. At first, they were examined using the JRMDQ, the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, and the visual analogue scale (VAS). The repeatability of the JRMDQ was evaluated in 55 patients by two examinations within 2 weeks. To examine the validity of the JRMDQ, the correlation between the JRMDQ and other scales was calculated in all 320 patients. The JRMDQ demonstrated significant repeatability (R = 0.810, P < 0.0001). The JRMDQ and other scales demonstrated significant correlations (JRMDQ-JOA, R = −0.772; JRMDQ-ADL items of JOA score, R = −0.790; JRMDQ-VAS, R = 0.447, P < 0.0001). The JRMDQ is a repeatable and valid questionnaire for assessing disabilities caused by LBP and/or LD. The JRMDQ is equivalent to the English RMDQ.