Development and validation of the PrePain questionnaire for predicting pain

Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 11;15(1):25112. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-09044-5.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties and construct validity of the PrePain questionnaire in both the general population and a long-term pain population. The PrePain questionnaire is an 11-item self-administered tool that assesses current pain intensity, long-term pain history, and attitudes, emotions, and behaviors related to pain using a visual analog scale (VAS). This non-randomized observational study included 200 participants: 100 individuals with long-term pain and 100 without. Participants were recruited from a specialist pain rehabilitation clinic and via social media. The study involved baseline and follow-up assessments using the PrePain questionnaire, the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI-14), and the Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ). Statistical analyses included Spearman correlation for test-retest reliability, sign rank-test for sensitivity to change, Cronbach's α for internal consistency, principal component analysis for subscale analysis, and mixed-effects linear regression for test of criterion validity. A total of 187 participants completed the study. The PrePain questionnaire demonstrated acceptable face validity and moderate test-retest reliability (coefficients ranging from 0.58 to 0.73). Internal consistency was α = 0.63. Principal component analysis suggested a two or three-factor solution. Criterion validity was supported by significant correlations between PrePain items and SHAI-14 and CSQ catastrophizing, except for the pain sensitivity item. No significant changes were observed in the clinical group between baseline and follow-up assessments. The resuts provide preliminary evidence for the reliability of The PrePain questionnaire and its validity for assessing attitudes, emotions, and behaviors related to pain in both clinical and non-clinical populations. Further research is needed to explore its sensitivity to change and utility in clinical practice.

Keywords: Construct validity; Long-term pain; PrePain questionnaire; Psychometric properties; Public health.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Chronic Pain* / diagnosis
  • Chronic Pain* / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain Measurement* / methods
  • Pain* / diagnosis
  • Pain* / psychology
  • Psychometrics / methods
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Surveys and Questionnaires