HEADACHE-SPECIFIC DISABILITY QUESTIONNAIRE: PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF TRANSLATED ARABIC VERSION

Purpose: This study aimed to translate the Headache-Specific Disability Questionnaire (HDQ) into Arabic, ensure its cultural appropriateness, and examine its validity and reliability in Arabic-speaking individuals. Methods: The study involved 30 PhD-level experts across three panels and 270 participants diagnosed with headache disorders (mean age: 37.24 ± 7.36 years). Reliability was assessed through internal consistency and test–retest procedures. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with a 95% confidence interval evaluated test–retest reliability, while Cronbach’s alpha was used for internal consistency. The Arabic the Headache-Specific Disability Questionnaire (HDQ) underwent assessments of face, content, internal, and external construct validity. Internal construct validity was analyzed using factor analysis, and external construct validity was examined by correlating the Arabic Headache-Specific Disability Questionnaire (HDQ) with the Arabic version of the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6). Results: The Arabic Headache-Specific Disability Questionnaire (HDQ) exhibited robust psychometric performance. Factor analysis confirmed a four-factor structure. Face validity improved from 88.89% to 94.44% following expert revisions. Content validity was excellent, with an average item-level Content Validity Index (CVI) of 95.56%. Cronbach’s alpha values were 0.845 and 0.856 in two separate assessments, indicating high internal consistency. Test–retest reliability was strong (ICC = 0.975), and significant correlations were found with HIT-6, supporting external validity. No floor or ceiling effects were identified, reinforcing the tool’s reliability and sensitivity. Conclusion: The Arabic adaptation of the Headache-Specific Disability Questionnaire (HDQ) demonstrated excellent reliability and validity, making it a suitable tool for evaluating disability in Arabic-speaking individuals experiencing headaches.