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Adapting quality of life instruments
Angelo Swaine-Verdier1, Lynda C Doward, Peter Hagell
1Freelance translator, Chevalet, Mazerat-Aurouze, France.
Summary
Achieving conceptual equivalence in translated clinical measures is crucial. This study questions the "gold-standard" forward-backward translation method and proposes an alternative dual translation panel approach for accurate cross-cultural adaptations.
Area of Science:
- Clinical research methodology
- Cross-cultural adaptation of instruments
- Psychometrics
Background:
- International clinical studies require multiple language versions of measures.
- Conceptual equivalence is necessary but achieving it is debated.
- The 'gold-standard' forward-backward translation method lacks supporting evidence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically evaluate the widely accepted 'gold-standard' translation method.
- To propose and describe an alternative translation methodology.
- To ensure conceptual equivalence in multilingual clinical assessments.
Main Methods:
- Critique of the traditional forward-backward translation approach.
- Description of a dual translation panel methodology.
- Application in adapting needs-based quality of life instruments.
Main Results:
- The 'gold-standard' method's efficacy is not empirically supported.
- The dual translation panel method offers a viable alternative.
- This alternative method has been successfully applied in practice.
Conclusions:
- The 'gold-standard' translation method is questionable.
- A dual translation panel approach provides a robust alternative for creating conceptually equivalent measures.
- This method is effective for quality of life instrument adaptations.