Improving Spanish translations of tobacco dependence measures using cognitive interviewing

Cognitive interviewing is the practice of systematically collecting feedback about survey items from members of the priority population, with the goal of identifying and rectifying problems to increase the comprehensibility of the survey. Evidence is limited on the extent to which this method of pretesting improves survey items.

The current study examined the utility of incorporating cognitive interviewing to improve the Spanish translations of two measures of tobacco dependence.

Items from the Spanish versions of the Wisconsin Inventory of Smoking Dependence Motives (68 items) and Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale (19 items) were subjected to cognitive interviews with Spanish-speaking smokers. Problematic items were revised based on participant feedback and re-assessed in a second round of interviews (N = 23, 78.3% male; 21.7% female).

Twenty-three of the 87 items demonstrated comprehension problems, and 67 items elicited at least one problem report. Number of problems were significantly fewer pre- vs. post-revision (t [90] = 6.55, p < .001).

In combination with standard translation procedures, cognitive interviewing with the priority population appears to be a useful method for ensuring comprehensible and relevant item content.