Translating patient reported outcome measures: methodological issues explored using cognitive interviewing with three rheumatoid arthritis measures in six European languages

Sarah Hewlett*, Joanna Nicklin, Chistina Bode, Loreto Carmona, Emma Dures, Matthias Engelbrecht, Sofia Hagel, John Kirwan, Anna Molto, Marta Redondo, Laure Gossec

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Cross-cultural translation of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) is a lengthy process, often performed professionally. Cognitive interviewing assesses patient comprehension of PROMs. The objective was to evaluate the usefulness of cognitive interviewing to assess translations and compare professional (full) with non-professional (simplified) translation processes.

METHODS: A full protocol used for the Bristol RA Fatigue Multi-dimensional Questionnaire and Numerical Rating Scale (BRAF-MDQ, BRAF-NRS) was compared with a simplified protocol used for the RA Impact of Disease scale (RAID). RA patients in the UK, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain and Sweden completed the PROMs during cognitive interviewing (BRAFs in the UK were omitted as these were performed during development). Transcripts were deductively analysed for understanding, information retrieval, judgement and response options. Usefulness of cognitive interviewing was assessed by the nature of problems identified, and translation processes by percentage of consistently problematic items (⩾40% patients per country with similar concerns).

RESULTS: Sixty patients participated (72% women). For the BRAFs (full protocol) one problematic item was identified (of 23 items × 5 languages, 1/115 = 0.9%). For the RAID (simplified protocol) two problematic items were identified (of 7 items × 6 languages, 2/42 = 4.8%), of which one was revised (Dutch). Coping questions were problematic in both PROMs.

CONCLUSION: Conceptual and cultural challenges though rare were important, as identified by formal evaluation, demonstrating that cognitive interviewing is crucial in PROM translations. Proportionately fewer problematic items were found for the full than for the simplified translation procedure, suggesting that while both are acceptable, professional PROM translation might be preferable. Coping may be a particularly challenging notion cross-culturally.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberkew011
Pages (from-to)1009-1016
Number of pages8
JournalRheumatology
Volume55
Issue number6
Early online date24 Feb 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2016

Keywords

  • Bristol Rheumatoid Arthritis Fatigue scales
  • Cognitive interviewing
  • Patient reported outcome measures
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact of Disease scale
  • Translation

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