Résumé
Impaired body perception could contribute to the pain experience and be a possible treatment target. The Fremantle Back Awareness Questionnaire (FreBAQ) is the only self-report questionnaire to assess back-specific self-perception. We aimed to develop a French version of the FreBAQ and evaluate its psychometric properties. Methods: we recruited 118 patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP) and 30 healthy participants in Nimes University Hospital, France. With a cross cultural process, we translated the FreBAQ into French. Unidimensionality, internal consistency, knowngroups validity, and temporal stability were assessed. Patients’ FreBAQ-FR scores were correlated with functional questionnaires and two-point discrimination thresholds (TPD). Results: FreBAQ-FR was rated as acceptable by patients. It showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.78) and can be considered unidimensional. The temporal stability of the FreBAQ-FR was acceptable (ICC: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.77 to 0.89). The cLBP group scored significantly higher than controls (11 [6; 17] vs. 0.5 [0; 5], p<0.0001). In the cLBP group, FreBAQ-FR total scores correlated moderately with the Oswestry Disability Index (r=0.53, 95% CI: 0.39 to 0.65) and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale total score (r=0.53, 95% CI: 0.38 to 0.65). The TPD test did not correlate with FreBAQ-FR scores (r=0.06, 95% CI: -0.12 to 0.24). Discussion: the FreBAQ-FR showed acceptable psychometric properties and is suitable to use in the French-speaking population with cLBP. This questionnaire could help researchers and clinicians to assess disrupted self-perception of the back, and potentially offer better tailored treatment to patients.