Erfassung von Fear-Avoidance Beliefs bei älteren Patienten mit chronischem Rückenschmerz durch zwei Kurzfragebögen: AMIKA-K & KVS-D-65+

AMIKA-K and KVS-D-65+: psychometric evaluation of two screening instruments for the assessment of fear avoidance beliefs in elderly individuals Background: There is a lack of adequate diagnostic methods for the assessment of fear avoidance beliefs (FABs) in the elderly. These have been proven to be a major factor in the chronifying process of lower back pain and are effectively treatable by confrontation therapy. For the aim of measuring these beliefs, the AMIKA-K has been developed from its original long version. The KVS-D-65+ is another instrument to measure FABs and it has been created by using its original version named PASS. Both instruments are adjusted to the specific target group. The purpose of this study finally consists of evaluating both instruments. Methods: A diagnostic longitudinal study with a repeated measurement after 4 weeks has been carried out in form of interviews. Apart from the AMIKA-K and the KVS-D-65+, FAB, pain, disability, habitual wellbeing and the actual strain has been determined at both measurement points. The average age of the 68 elderly individuals, who have taken part at both interviews was M = 74.1 (SD = 7.2). Results: Retest reliability of AMIKA-K amounted to r = 0.732 and the internal consistency was α = 0.731. Correlations with pain and disability showed medium effect sizes, whereas no connection to habitual wellbeing and actual strain could be determined. The effect sizes regarding other related FAB scales were found to be in the middle range. Retest reliability of KVS-D-65+ was r = 0.723. Internal consistency amounted to α = 0.868 and correlations with other construct related instruments were considerable. Pain intensity, disability, pain habitual wellbeing as well as actual strain showed medium and large effect sizes depending on the subscales. Conclusions: The results allow the use of both diagnostic instruments for further surveys. AMIKA-K is able to identify patients who may profit from a confrontation therapy.