The reliability of the Bad Sobernheim Stress Questionnaire (BSSQbrace) in adolescents with scoliosis during brace treatment

Eight questions are provided focussing on this topic only, including two questions to test the credibility. A max. score of 24 can be achieved (from 0 for most stress to 24 for least stress). We have proposed a subdivision of the score values as follows: 0–8 (strong stress), 9–16 (medium stress) and 17–24 (little stress).85 patients were invited to take part in this study and to complete the BSSQbrace questionnaire twice, once at the first presentation and a second after a further three days.62 patients with an average age of 14,5 years and an average Cobb angle of 40° returned their fully completed questionnaires.The average stress value was 12,5/24 at the first measurement and 12,4/24 at the second measurement. Ceiling value was 23; floor value 2.The average stress value was 12,5 / 24 at the first measurement and 12,4 / 24 at the second measurement (from 0 for most stress to 24 for least stress). Ceiling value was 23; floor value 2. There was a correlation of 0,88 (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient) between the values of the two measurements. Cronbach alpha was 0, 97.The BSSQbrace questionnaire is reliable with good internal consistency and reproducibility. It can be used to measure the coping strategies a patient uses and the impairment a patient feels to have, whilst wearing a brace.Quality of life seems to be an important issue for patients with scoliosis. Frequently the SF-36 questionnaire was used to assess health related quality of life (HRQL), which has to be regarded as a general tool already used for quite a variety of diagnoses. In a study related to scoliosis it has already been used alongside the two other questionnaires [1]: Women with idiopathic scoliosis were questioned with the help of an age adapted set of questionnaires containing questions referring to the health related quality of life (SF-36, BFW, STAIK). The results were compared to the norm values and examined in uni- and multivariate procedures (MANOVA) in order to find out whether age or