Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
Validity and Reliability of the Kannada Version of the Pain Catastrophising Scale in Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Cross-sectional Study
By Aparna Dinesh Shetty, Prashant Mukkannavar, Pooja Motar Sublok and 2 others.
Abstract
Introduction
Pain catastrophising (PC) involves reacting to pain with an exaggeratedly negative mindset. For individuals suffering from Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA), a higher level of catastrophising correlates with more pain, restricted activity, and a diminished Quality of Life (QoL). Although, the Kannada-Pain Catastrophising Scale (K-PCS) is available in Kannada, its reliability and validity for KOA individuals have not been confirmed, so it needs to be tested specifically for this group.
Aim
To evaluate the structural validity, construct validity and reliability of the K-PCS and to determine whether it validly and reliably assesses PC in individuals diagnosed with KOA. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional psychometric validation study was carried out in the Department of Physiotherapy, at JGMM Hospital and Medical Research Centre in Hubballi, Karnataka, India, from April 2026 to June 2026. The K-PCS was administered along with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), World Health Organisation QoL (WHOQOL-BREF), and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha. Test-retest reliability was assessed with the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) in 30 participants after seven days. Structural validity was explored using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) followed by a preliminary Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) of EFA derived model, while construct validity was measured using Spearman’s correlation coefficient (ρ). Additionally, Composite Reliability (CR) and Average Variance Extracted (AVE) were estimated.
