Translation and Linguistic Validation of the Self-completed Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S-LANSS) scale for use in a Libyan population

R. A. Elzahaf, O. A. Tashani, B.A. Unsworth and M. I. Johnson Centre for Pain Research, Faculty of Health, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK

The self-completed Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S-

LANSS) is used to identify pain of neuropathic origin and has been validated

(Bennett, et al. 2005). This research was to translate the S-LANSS from English to

Arabic for subsequent use in a survey of chronic pain in Libya.

Introduction

Methods

There were strong correlations between items in the Arabic and English S-LANSS (table 1).

Results

Conclusion The final Arabic version of S-LANSS is reliable and linguistically valid to use in

Libyan population. A study of a large sample in Libya is needed to confirm that this Arabic

version is suitable to be used by non-educated and older members of Libyan

Society.

ReferencesBennett, M.(2001) The LANSS Pain Scale: The Leeds Assessment

of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs. Pain, 92(1), pp.147-157.

Bennett, M.I., et al. (2005) The S-LANSS Score for Identifying Pain of Predominantly Neuropathic Origin :Validation for Use in Clinical

and Postal Research. J Pain, 6(3), pp.149-158.

Wild D., et al. (2005) Principles of Good Practice for the Translation and Cultural Adaptation Process for Patient-Reported Outcomes (Pro) Measures: Report of the ISPOR Task Force for Translation

and Cultural Adaptation. Value Health, 8(2), pp.94-104.

  S-LANSS ItemsTotal Pain

Score

Score

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7    

Correlation (r)

1.00 1.00 0.69 1.00 1.00 0.85 0.85 0.939 0.974

P value 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

The Arabic version identified 6 participants (46.2%) as having signs and symptoms of

neuropathic pain (i.e. scoring more than 12 on total S-LANSS). The original English S-LANSS

identified 5 (38.5%) of these 6 participants. Numerical Rating Pain Scale scores in English

and Arabic versions were correlated, IntraClass Correlation, (r=0.883, p=0.000).

Five Arabic speaking health professionals fluent in both languages independently translated the

S-LANSS into Arabic. A sequence of translation and back-translation then followed to produce a final version of the Arabic S-LANSS which was then completed by 13 Libyan nationals living in

the UK who had experienced pain (age range 25

to 51 years, 6 females) (Figure 1) These 13 participants completed the original

English S-LANSS one week later. Test re-test reliability was performed by correlating answers

of the Arabic and English questionnaires.

Table1: IntraClass Correlation between the English and Arabic version

Arabic Language version 1

Arabic Language version 3

Arabic Language version 2

Arabic Language version 4

Translate English version of

the questionnaire to Arabic by 5 medical

professionals fluent

in both languages

Review by other medical professionals

Testing of Arabic version on 13 Libyan

participants who living in the UK

Translate back into English by

Translator who has not seen

the original English version

Review by theResearcher

Discuss problems which arise in the pilot study

and resolve them

Discussion

Reconciliation

Comparison

Discussion with other member of research

Figure 1: showing translation of questionnaire

Figure 2: IntraClass Correlation between the total score of English and Arabic version

Final Arabic Language version

Arabic Language version 1

Translate back into English by

Translator who has not seen

the original English version