The Pain Disability Questionnaire: a reliability and validity study

The goal of this study was to translate and adapt The Pain Disability Questionnaire (PDQ) to Brazilian Portuguese, as well as to assess its psychometric properties and practicability. The following methodological steps were followed: translation, synthesis, back-translation, expert committee assessment and pre-test. The psychometric properties were assessed through the application of a questionnaire to 119 patients with chronic musculoskeletal disorders. The results indicated the reliability of the instrument, with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.86, and high stability in the test-retest. A moderate correlation was found between the PDQ scores and the numerical pain scale. Negative correlations were found between the Spitzer Quality of Life Index and the functional condition, psychosocial component and total PDQ score. Construct validity demonstrated significant difference in PDQ scores between symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. The PDQ revealed fast application and easy understanding. The results indicated a successful cultural adaptation and reliable psychometric properties.El objetivo de este estudio fue traducir y adaptar el Cuestionario The Pain Disability Questionnaire (PDQ) para el portugués de Brasil, evaluando sus propiedades psicométricas y la usabilidad. Fueron seguidos los siguientes pasos metodológicos: traducción, síntesis, retrotraducción, evaluación por un comité de expertos y realización de una prueba piloto. Las propiedades psicométricas fueron evaluadas por la aplicación del cuestionario en 119 pacientes con lesiones musculares. Los resultados indican la confiabilidad del instrumento con el coeficiente alfa de Cronbach de 0,86, y alta estabilidad en la prueba piloto. Una correlación moderada se encontró entre las puntuaciones de la PDQ y la escala numérica del dolor. Correlaciones negativas fueron observadas entre el Spitzer Quality of Life Index y la condición funcional, el componente psicosocial, y la puntuación total de la PDQ. La validez del constructo demostró una diferencia significativa en las puntuaciones del PDQ entre sujetos sintomáticos y asintomáticos. El PDQ demostró ser rápido y comprensible. Los resultados indicaron una exitosa adaptación cultural y propiedades psicométricas confiables.O objetivo deste estudo foi traduzir e adaptar The Pain Disability Questionnaire (PDQ) para o português do Brasil, avaliar suas propriedades psicométricas e praticabilidade. Os seguintes passos metodológicos foram seguidos: tradução, síntese, retrotradução, avaliação por comitê de especialistas e pré-teste. As propriedades psicométricas foram avaliadas pela aplicação do questionário a 119 pacientes com lesões musculoesqueléticas crônicas. Os resultados indicaram a confiabilidade do instrumento com o coeficiente alfa de Cronbach de 0,86, e alta estabilidade na aplicação do teste-reteste. Uma correlação moderada foi encontrada entre os escores do PDQ e a escala numérica de dor. Correlações negativas foram encontradas entre o Spitzer Quality of Life Index e a condição funcional, componente psicossocial e escore total do PDQ. A validade de construto demonstrou diferença significativa nos escores do PDQ entre indivíduos sintomáticos e assintomáticos. O PDQ mostrou aplicação rápida e fácil entendimento. Os resultados indicaram sucesso na adaptação cultural e propriedades psicométricas confiáveis

The church, the state and the stage: Dramatic narratives during the apartheid era

During the colonial times, many communities in Africa, including South Africa abandoned their traditional religious practices in favour of Christianity. Christianity was embraced because of its perceived stand against injustice and oppression of the poor. Christian religious doctrine on the principles of equality of all mankind attracted many to join the fold. With the passage of time, religious claims have been rejected because of their alleged logical or moral incoherence, and because of some of the church’s practices which are at variance with its ideals as guardian of morality. This article is a critique of the negative role that Christian religion played during the apartheid era in South Africa. The discourse focuses primarily on the exposition of the activities of some religious sects through the medium of theatre in Sinxo’s Imfene kaDebeza neminye imidlalwana (1960) and Dhlomo’s The Girl who killed to save: Nongqawuse the liberator (1936 in Visser & Couzens, 1985) as case studies.South African Journal of African Languages 2012, 32(1): 43–5

CULTURAL POLICY AND ARTS MANAGEMENT CURRICULUM IN SOUTH AFRICA'S EDUCATION SYSTEM: LESSONS FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE

Cultural policy and arts management studies as a field of public inquiry is relatively old and have generated much literature worldwide. It has gained strong currency as an educational and research concept for the humanities and social sciences. To date, research journals and academic courses in the field proliferate, especially at tertiary education levels, for the benefit of scholars, government officials, arts managers, policy makers and so forth. South Africa is lagging behind in this regard in that many of the country’s institutions of higher learning do not offer training in cultural policy and management. This is symptomatic of poor crafting and positioning of arts education within the broader education system in South Africa. This article discusses the importance of broadening the scope of arts education in South Africa to include cultural policy and arts management studies, as well as related subjects, and placing them at the centre of academic inquiry, from school to tertiary education levels, so as to bring about or create conditions of good cultural governance across the broad institutional spectrum. Keywords: arts education, arts curriculum, arts management, cultural policy, education system, and good governance

Musculoskeletal symptoms and workers' perception about job factors in a pulp and paper industry

The study aimed to conduct a literature review as a step of the development of a new questionnaire about the nursing workers' perception of job factors that may lead to musculoskeletal symptoms. An information synthesis was achieved by collecting data from studies that fitted the search criteria. The results showed that despite the existence of several job factors related to musculoskeletal symptoms, no specific questionnaire that evaluates this relationship was found. Therefore, this literature review presents important topics for developing the first questionnaire to analyze work activities that may contribute to pain and discomfort among nursing personnel.4115728573

Reliability and validity of an ergonomics-related Job Factors Questionnaire

Musculoskeletal disorders are an important cause of work disability and absenteeism. Specific job factors or tasks may increase the likelihood of developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The purpose of the present study was to translate and adapt a job Factors Questionnaire for the Brazilian-Portuguese language and evaluate its psychometric properties. A cross-cultural adaptation was performed according to an internationally recommended methodology involving translation, synthesis, back-translation, revision by an expert committee, and pre-testing. The psychometric properties were evaluated by administering the questionnaire to 148 employees at two companies involved in the assembly and fabrication of metal products. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed by measuring the temporal stability through a test-retest design. Construct validity was assessed using the known-groups technique and by comparing workers responses with findings from the Nordic Questionnaire. Reliability was determined to be satisfactory based on Intraclass Correlation Coefficients ranging from 0.54 to 0.73. Construct validity analysis demonstrated a significant difference (p <= 0.02) between production and office workers on answers to 10 questionnaire items, and a significant difference (p <= 0.01) on the scores of the adapted questionnaire between subjects that indicated presence or absence of musculoskeletal symptoms. The results indicated that the adapted version of the questionnaire had psychometric properties that were acceptable for use in occupational studies involving workers that speak Brazilian-Portuguese. Relevance to industry: The present study provides results of a cross-cultural adaptation process and a psychometric properties analysis of an instrument that verifies workers' perception of job factors that may lead to work-related pain and discomfort. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.396995100