Hong Kong Med J 2009;15(Suppl 6):S9-12
Effects of fear-avoidance beliefs on Chinese patients with neck pain
TW Chiu, KC Lee, TH Lam, MC Lau
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
1. The Chinese version of the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) has good content validity, test-retest reliability, internal consistency, construct validity, responsiveness, and factor structure. Thus, fear-avoidance beliefs can be used in Chinese patients with neck pain.
2. The validated FABQ facilitates future research on the effects of fear-avoidance behaviour on patients with neck pain and hence a better service for and evaluation of patients with neck pain can be provided. It may also facilitate cross-cultural studies on this common problem between western and Chinese populations.
3. The construct of fear-avoidance beliefs can be applied to patients with neck pain.
4. The fear-avoidance beliefs are an important psychosocial measure in predicting future disability level and return to complete work capacity (immediately and 3 months after physiotherapy).
2. The validated FABQ facilitates future research on the effects of fear-avoidance behaviour on patients with neck pain and hence a better service for and evaluation of patients with neck pain can be provided. It may also facilitate cross-cultural studies on this common problem between western and Chinese populations.
3. The construct of fear-avoidance beliefs can be applied to patients with neck pain.
4. The fear-avoidance beliefs are an important psychosocial measure in predicting future disability level and return to complete work capacity (immediately and 3 months after physiotherapy).