Dialectal influence on chronic pulmonary disease assessment test: the reliability and validity study

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Health Outcomes Research
• Linguistic Adaptations in Healthcare

Background:

• Many Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients use local dialects.
• Official language versions of health assessments may not capture the full patient experience.
• Local dialects are crucial for accurate health assessments in diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the reliability and validity of the Thai and northern Thai dialect versions of the COPD Assessment Test (CAT).
• To evaluate these versions in stable COPD patients in northern Thailand.
• To determine the most suitable CAT version for this population.

Main Methods:

• 160 COPD patients were randomly assigned to evaluate either the Thai or northern Thai dialect CAT version.
• Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha; test-retest reliability using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICCC).
• Validity was evaluated by correlating CAT scores with the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and clinical parameters (FEV1, mMRC, 6-MWD).

Main Results:

• Both Thai CAT versions exhibited high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 0.82 and 0.76) and test-retest reliability (ICCC: 0.82 and 0.84).
• The northern Thai dialect version showed a good correlation with SGRQ, while the standard Thai version had a moderate correlation.
• Correlations with clinical parameters like FEV1, mMRC, and 6-MWD were also assessed.

Conclusions:

• Both Thai versions of the CAT are reliable and valid tools for assessing quality of life in Thai COPD patients.
• The northern Thai dialect version is particularly suitable for COPD patients in northern Thailand.
• Linguistic adaptation of health assessment tools enhances their clinical utility.