Validity, Reliability, and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Turkish Version of Back Pain Knowledge and Beliefs Survey (BacKS)

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most prevalent health issues worldwide, with approximately three-quarters of individuals experiencing this condition at some point in their lives. Misconceptions, beliefs, and misinformation about LBP can prolong the duration of pain and contribute to its chronicity. Clinical guidelines emphasize the importance of educating patients with evidence-based information to remove potential barriers to recovery.

The Back Pain Knowledge and Beliefs Survey (BacKS) was introduced in October 2024 to assess individuals' knowledge and beliefs about LBP based on the most recent scientific evidence. Several tools in the literature aim to measure knowledge and beliefs related to LBP, including the Back Beliefs Questionnaire (BBQ) and the Back Pain Knowledge Questionnaire. However, these tools were developed in previous decades and may not reflect the current scientific literature. Additionally, the Turkish versions of some of these questionnaires have not yet undergone validation and reliability studies.

According to the 2016-2022 Turkish Health Survey conducted by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), back-related problems rank first among all reported health issues, with a prevalence rate of 24.6%. Despite the high prevalence of LBP in Turkey, there is currently no systematically validated tool available in Turkish to measure the public's knowledge and beliefs regarding this condition.

The adaptation of BacKS into Turkish will help address this gap by providing a valid and reliable tool for both clinical and community-based research. Measuring and evaluating patient-reported outcomes accurately is crucial in managing LBP effectively. Therefore, the aim of this study is to conduct the cross-cultural adaptation, validation, and reliability analysis of the Turkish version of BacKS.