Psychometric Properties of the Arabic Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale (Ar-HSS-Pedi-FABS) Among Saudi Children and Adolescents: A Validation Study.
Academic Article
Overview
abstract
BACKGROUND: Children and adolescents' participation in organized sports is widespread, resulting in significant sports-related injuries. The Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale (HSS Pedi-FABS) assesses activity levels in children and adolescents involved in sports. Current Arabic-language pediatric orthopaedic rating scales often overlook active children or are lengthy and culturally biased, limiting their effectiveness. PURPOSE: To translate, culturally adapt, and validate the HSS Pedi-FABS for Arabic-speaking populations. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study (Diagnosis); Level of evidence 3. METHODS: This study was conducted from March to June 2024 at King Saud University Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and included participants aged 8 to 21 years who were fluent in Arabic and participated in organized sports and physical activity. The HSS Pedi-FABS was translated and validated through a multistep process involving forward and backward translations by certified translators, expert review, and face and content validity testing with content experts. Participants completed a survey with demographic questions, the Arabic-adapted HSS Pedi-FABS, and the Pediatric Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C). Reliability was assessed by internal consistency and test-retest reliability assessments and validity through both convergent and discriminant validity analyses. RESULTS: A total of 150 participants aged 8 to 21 years were included. The Arabic HSS Pedi-FABS (Ar-Pedi-FABS) demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach alpha, .79) and substantial agreement on test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.78). Convergent validity with the PAQ-C demonstrated moderate positive correlation (r = 0.60; P < .001), with Bland-Altman analysis indicating mean differences close to zero. Discriminant validity testing revealed that age demonstrated a clinically insignificant negative correlation with Ar-Pedi-FABS and sex was not significantly associated with Ar-Pedi-FABS. CONCLUSION: This study translated, cross-culturally adapted, and validated an Arabic version of the HSS Pedi-FABS, which demonstrated acceptable reliability and validity for assessing activity levels in Arabic-speaking children and adolescents. This development facilitates the assessment of physical activity in a way that respects cultural relevance for Arabic-speaking populations, supporting better communication, tailored interventions, and improved health outcomes.
