Abstract
Introduction
The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is a patient reported outcome questionnaire that assesses the functional status of a patient with back pain. It is widely used to assess the effectiveness of interventions for low back pain. The ODI is currently administered in outpatient clinics on a face-to-face basis, which can be expensive and time consuming. Telephonic administration of ODI, if valid, can be more convenient, may improve follow-up rates, and reduce costs. The objective of this study is to validate telephonic administration of ODI compared with face-to-face administration. Study
Methods
A convenience sample of employees and patients in an academic medical building were recruited. Face-to-face administration of ODI was done then retested 24 hours later over the phone. Reliability of each response from each section and overall scores were compared with determine test retest reliability by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient.
Results
22 individuals completed the ODI questionnaire face to face, then via telephone 24 hours later. There was a mean 2%(±3) intrarater ODI score difference, range 0% to 12%. The Intraclass correlation coefficient overall was 0.98 (95%CI: 0.96, 0.99, p < 0.001) with a range of 0.95 to 1.0 revealing near perfect testretest reliability.
Conclusions
Administration of ODI questionnaire over the phone has excellent testretest reliability compared with face-to-face administration.