Validation and cross-cultural adaptation of an Arabic version of the chronic pain self-efficacy scale.
Mohamed G Almalki, Amr A Abdel-Aziem
PMID 41477570WHAT IT FOUND
The Arabic version of the Chronic Pain Self-Efficacy Scale is a valid and reliable tool for Saudi patients.
It accurately measures three distinct areas: managing pain, maintaining physical function, and coping with symptoms. Clinicians can use it to assess self-efficacy and track progress in Arabic-speaking patients with chronic pain.
Key findings
01The Arabic Chronic Pain Self-Efficacy Scale (CPSS) demonstrated good internal consistency across all three subscales, with Cronbach’s alpha values ranging from 0.870 to 0.935.
02The scale showed acceptable test-retest reliability for the total score (ICC = 0.743) and good-to-acceptable reliability for individual subscales (ICC 0.463–0.688) over a 7-day period.
03Higher self-efficacy scores were significantly associated with lower levels of depression, confirming the scale's construct validity against the Beck Depression Inventory.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study was conducted only with Saudi adults, so its applicability to other Arabic-speaking populations may vary. Data collection was electronic (Google Forms), which may introduce selection bias and excludes patients without digital access. The test-retest reliability for the 'pain management' subscale was lower (ICC 0.463) than for the other subscales, suggesting this specific aspect of self-efficacy may be less stable over time. The study did not compare the Arabic CPSS against other pain self-efficacy measures, such as the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ).
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was funded by Taif University, Saudi Arabia, through its Scientific Research Ethics Committee.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the Arabic CPSS is interchangeable with the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ). The CPSS measures three distinct dimensions of self-efficacy (pain management, physical function, coping), whereas the PSEQ is often used as a single-dimensional measure. Using them interchangeably may lead to misinterpretation of which specific aspect of self-efficacy is impaired.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →