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Psychometric properties of the functional rating index in patients with low back pain

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An Erratum to this article was published on 14 October 2005

Abstract

Main Problem: The purpose of this study was to validate the psychometric properties of the functional rating index (FRI), establish the instrument’s minimum clinically important difference (MCID), and compare its psychometric properties with the Oswestry questionnaire. Methods: This was a cohort study of patients with low back pain (LBP) undergoing physical therapy. One thirty one patients with a primary complaint of LBP participating in a clinical trial were assessed at baseline and at a 1- and 4-week follow-up. Test-re-test reliability was examined using the intraclass correlation coefficient, and validity was examined by determining the association between the FRI and Oswestry, a concurrent measure of disability. Responsiveness was examined by calculating the standard error of the measure, minimum detectable change, area under a receiver operating characteristic curve, and minimum clinically important difference. Changes in clinical status at each follow-up period were compared to the average of the patient and therapist’s perceived improvement using the 15-point global rating of change scale. Results: Test-retest reliability of the FRI was moderate, with an intraclass correlation coefficient equal to 0.63 (0.35, 0.80). Validity of the FRI was supported by a moderate correlation between the FRI and Oswestry (r=0.67, P<0.001). Area under the curve for the FRI was 0.93 (0.89, 0.98), and the minimum clinically important difference was approximately nine points. Conclusions: The FRI is less reliable than the Oswestry but appears to have comparable validity and responsiveness. Before the FRI can be recommended for widespread use in patients with neck and low back pain, it should be further tested in patients with neck pain.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the physical therapy staff at the following sites for their assistance with data collection: (1) Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base (AFB); (2) Malcolm Grow Medical Center, Andrews AFB; (3) Wright-Patterson Medical Center, Wright-Patterson AFB; (4) Eglin Hospital, Eglin AFB; (5) Luke Medical Clinic, Luke AFB; (6) Hill Medical Clinic, Hill AFB; (7) F.E. Warren Medical Clinic, F.E. Warren AFB; and (8) University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Health System’s Centers for Rehab Services. This study was supported by a grant from the Foundation for Physical Therapy, Inc. and the Wilford Hall Medical Center Commander’s Intramural Research Funding Program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy, Wilford, Hall Medical Center, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Maj John D. Childs

  2. Department of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Sara R. Piva

  3. 508 Thurber Dr, Schertz, TX, 78154, USA

    Maj John D. Childs

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  1. Maj John D. Childs
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  2. Sara R. Piva
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Correspondence to Maj John D. Childs.

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An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00586-005-1038-8

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Childs, M.J.D., Piva, S.R. Psychometric properties of the functional rating index in patients with low back pain. Eur Spine J 14, 1008–1012 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-005-0900-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-005-0900-z

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