Measuring symptom acceptance: Psychometric evaluation of ‘chronic pain acceptance questionnaire – symptoms’ in a Czech clinical sample

Abstract

Objective. The Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire – Symptoms (CPAQ-S, 20 items) measures patients’ acceptance of their symptoms. The questionnaire was created by reframing the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire-20 (CPAQ-20). This study describes the Czech validation of the full and short CPAQ-S forms.
Sample and settings. The final sample consisted of 368 patients (71% female) recruited at seven clinical sites in the Czech Republic.
Hypotheses. A hypothesized two-dimensional factor structure (Activity Engagement and Symptom Willingness) was tested together with other theoretically relevant factor solutions.
Statistical analyses. An ordinal confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis were employed.
Results. None of the theory-driven factor structures were confirmed in the CPAQ-S-20, and exploratory factor analysis did not yield any satisfactory factor solution. However, an eight-item version (CPAQ-S-8) was derived based on the factor analysis that was characterized by good psychometric properties even when retaining important facets of the expected two-factor structure (i.e., Activity Engagement and Symptom Willingness).
Limitations. While the sample heterogeneity was conceived as a strength of the study, an underlying noninvariance across different types of complaints could have caused unsatisfactory functioning of the scale.