Italian Adaptation and Validation of the Waddell Disability Index for Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are conducting a prospective observational study to develop and validate an Italian version of the Waddell Disability Index WDI-I, a questionnaire that patients complete themselves to assess disability related to chronic low back pain. Low back pain is a major cause of disability worldwide, and patient-reported outcome measures like the WDI are important tools for clinical assessment and rehabilitation planning. This study addresses the need for a culturally adapted Italian version of this well-known tool. The study involves a careful translation process including forward and backward translations by bilingual experts, review by a panel of clinicians, and pilot testing with patients. After finalizing the Italian version, 115 adults with chronic low back pain lasting at least three months will complete the WDI-I along with other established pain and disability scales. The WDI-I will be completed again after 7 to 10 days to evaluate consistency over time. Participants will provide demographic and clinical data and complete questionnaires including the WDI-I, Numeric Pain Rating Scale, Italian Oswestry Disability Index, and Italian Pain Catastrophizing Scale. Researchers will analyze internal consistency, reliability, and validity of the WDI-I using statistical methods. Patient data will be pseudonymized and securely handled. The study will run until late 2026, aiming to offer a reliable and valid Italian tool for assessing disability in chronic low back pain.

Development and Validation of the Italian Version of the Waddell Chronic Disability Index for People With Low Back Pain