The development and validation of a multi-dimensional measure of chronic foot pain: The ROwan Foot Pain Assessment Questionnaire (ROFPAQ)

The development and validation of the ROwan Foot Pain Assessment Questionna ire (ROFPAQ) is described. This is the first attempt to develop a multi-dim ensional measure of chronic foot pain, and recognizes pain as having sensor y, affective and cognitive dimensions. The ROFPAQ was developed from themes that emerged from running focus groups and semi-structured interviews with people with chronic foot pain. Following piloting and selection of appropr iate items by both psychometric and semantic means, the scale was found to meet the accepted criteria for validity and reliability. The final scale de monstrates better than standard readability, has a short completion time an d a simple scoring method. The scale allows clinicians to determine which d imension(s) of foot pain are the most relevant to the subject, thereby aidi ng decisions regarding appropriate treatment. Topics for further work on th e ROFPAQ are highlighted.