The Whiplash Disability Questionnaire (WDQ).

Description Commentary References The Whiplash Disability Questionnaire (WDQ) (Pinfold et al 2004) is a 13-item questionnaire designed to measure disability caused by whiplash associated disorders (WAD). Items address current pain levels, personal care, role performance (work/study/home duties), mobility (driving/ public transport), sleep disturbances, tiredness, social and leisure (sporting and non-sporting) activity, emotional (sadness/depression, anger, anxiety) and concentration impairments. The WDQ was developed in response to a study by Hoving et al (2003) where 71 patients completed a semi-structured interview addressing problems associated with their WAD. When the identified problems were compared to items on the Neck Disability Index (NDI, Vernon and Mior 1991) and the Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ, Leak et al 1994) it was found that the NDI and NPQ did not address important areas such as social and emotional problems, thus decreasing their validity for use in a population with WAD. Instructions to the client and scoring The WDQ takes only 5–10 minutes to complete and score and requires no special training to administer. Clients circle a number on an 11-point scale (0–10) for each item anchored by descriptors at each end-point. Scores for each item are added to give a total score out of 130. It should be noted that in a subsequent study descriptors relating to tiredness/fatigue, sadness/depression, anger and anxiety have been altered slightly to reflect how often these feelings are experienced rather than how much of the feelings are experienced (Willis et al 2004). Reliability, validity and sensitivity to change The WDQ has excellent content and construct validity. Pinfold et al (2004) demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.96), sound factor structure, no substantial floor or ceiling effects and excellent response rates when tested on 101 patients with WAD. The validity of the WDQ was also strengthened by consultation with members of the Victorian Transport Accident Commission Medical Panel including practitioners in the fields of physiotherapy, musculoskeletal medicine, occupational rehabilitative medicine, chiropractic, clinical psychology and psychiatry. Short (24 hour, ICC = 0.96) and medium (one month, ICC = 0.93) term reliability were ascertained by Willis et al (2004) who tested 63 physiotherapy clients with WAD. Correlation between WDQ change and client perceived change over one month was r s = 0.64 while the minimum detectable change (90%) was calculated at 15 points. As neck pain is reported in up to 95% of clients with WAD, neck pain disability questionnaires are often …