ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the intra- and inter-observer reliability of a Brazilian Portuguese translated and cross-culturally adapted version of the mJOA questionnaire. Methods: The reliability of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the mJOA scale was assessed through the evaluation of a sample of patients with cervical myelopathy by two independent experienced spine surgeon examiners. Inter-observer reliability was defined by the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) between the evaluations of the two examiners, and intra-observer reliability was assessed by the ICC between the two evaluations of one examiner. Results: Fifty-five patients were included in the study (mean age 58.7 years). The ICC for inter-observer reliability of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the mJOA was 0.967, and the ICC for intra-observer reliability was 0.869, both classified as "almost perfect" (> 0.81). Conclusion: The Brazilian Portuguese translated and cross-culturally adapted version of the mJOA questionnaire appears to be valid and reliable. Level of evidence I, Diagnostic Studies, Investigating a Diagnostic Test.
RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a confiabilidade intra e interobservador da versão do questionário mJOA traduzida e adaptada culturalmente para o português brasileiro. Métodos: A confiabilidade da versão em português da escala mJOA foi avaliada em uma amostra de pacientes com mielopatia cervical por dois examinadores com experiência em cirurgia da coluna vertebral. A confiabilidade interobservador foi definida pelo Coeficiente de Correlação Intraclasse (CCI) entre as avaliações dos dois examinadores e a confiabilidade intraobservador pelo CCI entre duas avaliações de um examinador. Resultados: Cinquenta e cinco pacientes foram incluídos no estudo (média de idade: 58,7 anos). O CCI para confiabilidade interobservador da versão brasileira do mJOA foi 0,967 e o CCI para a confiabilidade intraobservador foi 0,869, ambas classificadas como "quase perfeita" (> 0,81). Conclusão: A versão do questionário mJOA traduzida e adaptada culturalmente para o português brasileiro demonstrou-se válida e confiável. Nível de Evidência I, Estudos diagnósticos, Investigação de um Exame para Diagnóstico.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To develop a version of the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) scale that had been translated into Portuguese and cross-culturally adapted for the Brazilian population. METHODS: The well-established process of forward-backward translation was employed along with cross-cultural adaptation. RESULTS: Three bilingual translators (English and native Portuguese) performed the forward translation of the mJOA scale from English to Portuguese based on iterative discussions used to reach a consensus translation. The translated version of the mJOA scale was then back-translated into English by a native English-speaking translator unaware of the concepts involved with the mJOA scale. The original mJOA scale and the back-translated version were compared by a native North American neurosurgeon, and as they were considered equivalent, the final version of the mJOA scale that had been translated into Portuguese and cross-culturally adapted was defined. CONCLUSION: To facilitate global and cross-cultural comparisons of the severity of cervical myelopathy, this study presents a version of the mJOA scale that was translated into Portuguese and cross-culturally adapted for the Brazilian population.