Development and content validity of the musculoskeletal self-management questionnaire (MSK-SMQ)

Article

Hutting, Nathan, Belton,Joletta, Caneiro, J.P., Oliveira, Vinicius Cunha, Devan, Hemakumar, Johnston, Venerina, Moore, Pete, Richardson, Julie, Staal, J. Bart and Walsh, Nicola. 2025. "Development and content validity of the musculoskeletal self-management questionnaire (MSK-SMQ)." Musculoskeletal Science and Practice. 78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msksp.2025.103342
Article Title

Development and content validity of the musculoskeletal self-management questionnaire (MSK-SMQ)

Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsHutting, Nathan, Belton,Joletta, Caneiro, J.P., Oliveira, Vinicius Cunha, Devan, Hemakumar, Johnston, Venerina, Moore, Pete, Richardson, Julie, Staal, J. Bart and Walsh, Nicola
Journal TitleMusculoskeletal Science and Practice
Journal Citation78
Article Number103342
Number of Pages8
Year2025
PublisherElsevier
Place of PublicationUnited Kingdom
ISSN2468-7812
2468-8630
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msksp.2025.103342
Web Address (URL)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468781225000906
Abstract

Background
Self-management is recommended for managing persistent musculoskeletal conditions. In self-management, standardized and validated measurements (e.g., questionnaires) should be used. However, there is no general questionnaire to evaluate the level of self-management in people with persistent musculoskeletal conditions.
Objectives
To develop a generic questionnaire to evaluate the level of self-management and self-management skills in people with persistent musculoskeletal conditions.
Design
Measurement properties study focused on the development and content validity of the Musculoskeletal Self-Management Questionnaire (MSK-SMQ).
Methods
The MSK-SMQ was developed, consisting of 24 questions. To assess the content validity of the MSK-SMQ, three panels (patients, professionals, researchers/academics) were used. The relevance, clarity and essentiality of each question was evaluated. Moreover, specific feedback could be provided. The Content Validity Index (CVI) was used to test content validity (Item-CV [I-CVI]) and the Scale-level-CVI [S-CVI]). The CVI was calculated for both relevance and clarity. The essentiality of each item was measured with the content validity ratio (CVR).
Results/findings
91 people participated in this study. The overall content validity (relevance) was excellent, with an S-CVI of 0.96. Overall clarity was also excellent, with a score of 0.97. The range of the I-CVI for relevance was 0.91–1.00 and the range for clarity was 0.93–1.00. The mean CVR value was 0.51 and ranged from 0.14 to 0.87.
Conclusions
The content validity of the questionnaire was found to be excellent. The study resulted in a revised version of the MSK-SMQ, which can be used in future research to determine further psychometric properties.

KeywordsContent validity; Self-management; Musculoskeletal conditions; Questionnaire
Contains Sensitive ContentDoes not contain sensitive content
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020420106. Physiotherapy
Byline AffiliationsSchool of Health and Medical Sciences
Centre for Health Research
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