Skip to main content
Canadian Journal of Pain logoLink to Canadian Journal of Pain
. 2020 Dec 30;4(4):45–46. doi: 10.1080/24740527.2020.1712653

Reproducibility: Reliability and Agreement Parameters of the Revised Short McGill Pain Questionnaire Version-2 for use in Patients with Musculoskeletal Shoulder Pain

Samuel U Jumbo a,, Joy C MacDermid a,b,c, Tara L Packham b, George S Athwal c, Kenneth J Faber c
PMCID: PMC7942798  PMID: 33987519

ABSTRACT

Background: The Revised Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire Version-2 (SF-MPQ-2) is a multidimensional outcome measure designed to evaluate neuropathic and nonneuropathic pain. A recent systematic review found insufficient psychometric data with respect to musculoskeletal health conditions.

Aims: The aim of this study was to describe the reproducibility (reliability and agreement) and internal consistency of the SF-MPQ-2 for use among patients with musculoskeletal shoulder pain.

Methods: Eligible patients with shoulder pain from musculoskeletal (MSK) sources completed the SF-MPQ-2 at baseline (n = 195), and a subset did so again after 3 to 7 days (n = 48) if their response to the global rating of change scale remained unchanged. Cronbach’s alpha (α) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC[2,1]) were calculated. Standard error of measurement (SEM), group and individual minimal detectable change (MDC90), and Bland-Altman plots were used to assess agreement.

Results: Cronbach’s α ranged from 0.83 to 0.95, suggesting very satisfactory internal consistency across the SF-MPQ-2 domains. Excellent ICC(2,1) scores were found in support of the total (0.95) and continuous (0.92) subscales; the remaining subscales displayed good ICC(2,1) scores (0.78–0.88). Bland-Altman analysis revealed no systematic bias between the test and retest scores (mean difference = 0.13 to 0.19). Though the best agreement coefficients were seen on the total scale (SEM = 0.5; MDC90 = 1.2, MDC90group = 0.3), they were acceptable for the SF-MPQ-2 subscales (SEM: range, 0.7–1; MDC90: range, 1.7–2.3; MDC90group: range, 0.4–0.5).

Conclusions: The SF-MPQ-2 provides good to excellent test–retest reliability for multidimensional pain assessment among patients with musculoskeletal shoulder pain conditions.

KEYWORDS: reproducibility, reliability, agreement, McGill Pain Questionnaire, shoulder pain, musculoskeletal, patient-reported outcomes

Disclosure statement

Samuel U. Jumbo has not declared any conflicts of interest. Joy C. MacDermid has not declared any conflicts of interest. Tara L. Packham has not declared any conflicts of interest. George S. Athwal has not declared any conflicts of interest. Kenneth J. Faber has not declared any conflicts of interest.


Articles from Canadian Journal of Pain = Revue canadienne de la douleur are provided here courtesy of Taylor & Francis

RESOURCES