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Updated: Aug 24, 2026
A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: January 11, 2020
Use of cognitive interviewing to adapt measurement instruments for low-literate Hispanics
Milagros C Rosal1, Elena T Carbone2, Karin Valentine Goins1
1Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, USA
Purpose:
Cognitive interviewing techniques were used to adapt existing measures for use with a population of low-literate Spanish-speaking people with diabetes.
Methods:
Five individuals of Caribbean origin with diabetes participated in cognitive interviews for 4 instruments (measuring diabetes knowledge, quality of life, self-management, and depression) adapted for oral administration to low-literate individuals. Audiotaped interviews and handwritten notes were subjected to content analysis to identify problems across the 4 instruments as well as specific to a given instrument.
Results:
The following key problems were identified: general instructions were not helpful, items that were not specific enough generated a variety of interpretations, some wording was confusing, abstract concepts were difficult to understand, some terminology was unfamiliar, and interpretation of certain words was incorrect.
Conclusions:
The data illustrate the usefulness of cognitive interviewing as a first step in the process of adapting measurement instruments.
