Reliability of the Roland - Morris Disability Questionnaire (Thai version) for the Evaluation of Low Back Pain Patients
Kitti Jirarattanaphochai, MD*, Surachai Jung, MD*, Chat Sumananont, MD*, Sukit Saengnipanthkul, MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen
Objective : To determine the reliability of the Thai version of the Roland - Morris disability questionnaire in
low back pain patients.
Materials and Methods : To develop Thai version of the Roland - Morris disability questionnaire and test it in
120 low back pain patients. Reliability of the Thai version of the Roland - Morris disability questionnaire
was assessed by internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient.
Results : The overall Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the scale was 0.83. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of
each question in the Thai version of the Roland - Morris disability questionnaire exceeded 0.7 (range, 0.71-
0.93). The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient tested in acute or chronic low back pain patients whether they have
back pain only or back pain with radiculopathy which also exceeded 0.7 (range,0.83-0.87)
Conclusion : The Thai version of the Roland - Morris disability questionnaire is a reliable tool for assessing
functional disability of low back pain in Thai patients.
Keywords : Thai version of the Roland - Morris disability questionnaire, Reliability, Back pain
