Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool (FiRST): Arabic Translation and Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM), a complex neurological disorder, has multiple consequences for the patient. To diagnose patients, healthcare practitioners use multiple diagnostic questionnaires. However, Arabic translated or validated tools are lacking. This study aimed to translate and validate the Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool (FiRST) into the Arabic language. Methods: Forward and backward translations of the FiRST were conducted by two Arabic translators and two English-certified translators. The survey was piloted (n = 5) and subjected to cognitive interviews and psychometric analysis. Patients were recruited from a university hospital in Riyadh and an FM support group in Saudi Arabia. The internal consistency, factor analysis, and test-retest correlations were evaluated. Results: This study included 46 patients. The stepwise translation process resulted in minor edits related to the use of synonyms to the survey items. The translated survey had a good internal consistency and test-retest correlation, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.7 and Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.79 (p-value < 0.001), respectively. The survey was factorable into two themes: generalized symptoms and more specific sensations. Conclusions: The Arabic FiRST is a simple, valid, and reliable tool to diagnose patients with FM in different settings.

Automated summary

This study aimed to translate and validate the Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool (FiRST) into Arabic. The translated survey showed good internal consistency and test-retest correlation, making it a simple, valid, and reliable tool for diagnosing patients with fibromyalgia in different settings.