Canadian French translation of the BREAST-Q Breast Conserving Therapy module

BACKGROUND: The BREAST-Q is a widely validated patient-reported outcome measure following breast surgery and adjuvant therapies. Although several language adaptations exist, the Breast Conserving Therapy (BCT) module has not yet been translated into Canadian French. Given that French is an official language in Canada, a Canadian French adaptation is important to enable equitable participation in research. This study aimed to develop a linguistically accurate and culturally appropriate Canadian French translation of two scales from the BCT module. METHODS: Two BREAST-Q BCT module scales (“Satisfaction with Breasts (Postoperative)” and “Adverse Effects of Radiation (Postoperative)”) were translated into Canadian French following established guidelines. The process included two independent forward translations, back translation, back translation review, and cognitive debriefing interviews with five breast cancer patients. RESULTS: Forward translation identified three English words or phrases not amenable to direct translation, which were resolved by consensus prior to back translation. Cognitive debriefing interviews with breast cancer patients identified eight terms or expressions for refinement; five were incorporated into the final version based on majority patient feedback, including replacement of “tumorectomie” with “lumpectomie” to reflect terminology more familiar to patients. CONCLUSIONS: The Canadian French translation of the BREAST-Q BCT scales provides a linguistically and culturally adapted tool for assessing patient-reported outcomes in breast cancer care. Inclusion of patient feedback ensured clarity and relevance, supporting equitable participation in research and clinical outcome measurement.