The Northwick Park Questionnaire

Original Editor - Boris Alexandra

Top Contributors - Boris Alexandra, Admin, Khloud Shreif, WikiSysop and Kim Jackson  

Definition/Description

The Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) measures the neck pain and the consequent patient disabilities. It’s easy to complete, simply to score and it provides an objective measure to evaluate outcome and to monitor symptoms in patients with acute or chronic neck pain over time. It was developed at Northwick Park Hospital in Middlesex England.

The questionnaire is divided in nine five-part sections. Namely : 1) neck pain intensity, 2) neck pain and sleeping, 3) pins and needles or numbness in the arms at night, 4) duration of symptoms, 5) carrying, 6) reading and watching television, 7) working and/or housework, 8) social activities and 9) driving. At the end there’s a tenth question which aims to compare the current state to the state when the questionnaire was last completed.

The NPQ had a good short term repeatability, a high internal consistency and a sensitivity to change. It provides a Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) that allows patients with varying levels of severity to demonstrate improvement. [1],[2],[4]

Clinical relevant anatomy

The neck musculature exists of the m. trapezius, m. sternocleidomastoideus,.m. longus capitis, m.longus colli, m. rectus capitis anterior and lataralis, mm. scalene, m.eroctor spinae, m. sternohyoideus, m. omohyoideaus, platysima.

The neck innervations exist of the plexus cervicalis and the n. accessories. [3]

Objective

The goal of this questionnaire is to find out how bad the neck pain is and how it has affected the Activities of Daily Living or the ability to manage in everyday life. [1],[4]

Method of Use

The patients have to fill in the questionnaire. Each parameter is divided in five answer possibilities with points from 0 till 4. 0 is significant for no pain and 4 is significant for worst pain. There is only one answer per parameter possible.

The neck pain score is the sum of the points scored for the first nine questions.
Question 9 (about the driving) is not applicable if the patient doesn’t drive a car in good health.
• If the nine questions are answered:
NPQ percentage = ((neck pain score) / 36) x 100%.
• If the first eight questions are answered:
NPQ percentage = ((neck pain score) / 32) x 100%.

The interpretation is done by the physiotherapist. The minimum score is 0.The maximum score is 36 if all nine questions were answered and 32 if only the first eight questions were answered. The percentage ranges from 0% to 100%. The higher the percentage, the greater the disability and the pain. [1],[4]

Evidence

Link

he Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire

Key research

[1] SIM, J., JORDAN, K., LEWIS, M., HILL, J., HAY, E.M., Dziedzic K.’Sensitivity to Change and Internal Consistency of the Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire and Derivation of a Minimal Clinically Important Difference.’, SourceClinical Journal of Pain., 22(9):820-826, November/December 2006.

[2] YEUNG, P.L., CHIU, T.T., LEUNG, A.S., ’Use of modified Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire in patients with postirradiation neck disability: validation study.’, Head Neck., 2004 Dec;26(12):1031-7.

[3] PETERSEN, S.M., WYATT, S.N., ‘Lower trapezius muscle strength in individuals with unilateral neck pain.’, J Orthop Sports Phys Ther., 2011 Apr;41(4):260-5.

References

[1] LEAK, A.M., COOPER, J., DYER, S., WILLIAMS, K.A., TURNER-STOKES, L., FRANK, A.O., ‘The Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire, devided to measure neck pain and disability.’, Br J Rheumatol. 1994 May;33(5):469-74.

[2] WLODYKA-DEMAILLE, S., POIRAUDEAU, S., CATANZARITI, J.F., RANNOU, F., FERMANIAN, J., REVEL, M. , ‘‘The ability to change of three questionnaires for neck pain.’, Joint Bone Spine, 2004 Jul;71(4):317-26.

[3] SCHUNKE, M., SCHULTE, E., SCHUMACHER, U., VOLL, M., WESKER, K., Prometheus, Bohn Stafleu van Loghum, Houten, 2005.

[4] https://www.cebp.nl/?NODE=77&SUBNODE=1137 (for the questionnaire)