Cross-cultural differences through subjective cognition: illustration in translatology with the SSTIC-E in the UAE

The development of appropriate and valid multicultural and multilingual instruments research is necessary due to a growing multicultural and multilingual society in the 21st century. We explored the use of a cognitive scale related to subjective complaints, focusing on the first step: a cross-cultural and semantic validation. This study presents the translation and cross-validation process of the "Subjective Scale to Investigate Cognition in Schizophrenia" (SSTICS) for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) region via different languages used in Dubaï/Abu Dhabi. This scale measures cognitive complaints and has been validated with psychosis and used in 20 clinical trials worldwide. It evaluates areas of the illness related to self-awareness focusing on memory dysfunction and deficits of attention, language, and praxis. We described the method of cross-cultural validation, with back-translation, semantic steps, and societal contexts. The use of the Subjective Scale to Investigate Cognition in Emirates (SSTIC-E) was explored with different samples of UAE Arabic-speaking subjects. First, a pilot sample mean SSTICS total score was 16.5 (SD:16.9); (p < 0.001). The SSTIC-E was then administered to 126 patients and 84 healthy control participants. The healthy group has a lower mean score of 22.55 (SD = 12.04) vs. 34.06 (SD = 15.19). The method was extended to nine other languages, namely, Pakistani/Urdu, Hindi, Marathi, Lithuanian, Serbian, German, Romanian, Sinhala, and Russian. The scales are provided in the article. The overall aim of the translation process should be to stay close to the original version of the instrument so that it is meaningful and easily understood by the target language population. However, for construct validity, some items must be adapted at the time of translation to ensure that the questioned cognitive domain is respected. For example, cooking, an executive function, does not have the same occurrence for an Emirati male, or remembering a prime minister's name, semantic memory, requires an electoral system to appoint the leader of a country. Translation methods and processes present many challenges but applying relevant and creative strategies to reduce errors is essential to achieve semantic validation. This study aims to measure personally experienced knowledge or attitudes; such language effects can be a thorny problem.

Examining the validity and reliability of the Arabic translated version of the depression and somatic symptoms scale (A-DSSS) among the Lebanese adults

The prevalence of depression is high worldwide, and somatic symptoms are known to be one of the most debilitating aspects of depression. However, clinicians often face challenges in accurately assessing this comorbidity. To address this issue, the Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale (DSSS) was developed as a self-administered scale that can diagnose both depression and somatic symptoms. The objective of this study is to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Arabic-translated version of the DSSS (A-DSSS) in a sample of Lebanese adults, as well as to explore its associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of one month, from February to March 2023, and involved a sample of 422 participants who were aged 18 years or older. Participants completed a questionnaire that included various measures, including demographic characteristics, alcohol and smoking habits, physical activity history, as well as two scales: the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ9) scale and the A-DSSS scale. The A-DSSS showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.936), strong test-retest reliability (ICC of 0.988 with CI 0.976-0.994; p < 0.001), and a three-factor structure consistent with previous research. Convergent validity was supported by a significant correlation with the PHQ-9. Stepwise linear regression revealed that engaging in physical activity and increasing calorie consumption (as measured by MET-min/week score) were associated with a significant decrease in the A-DSSS total score and subscales. However, a significant increase in the A-DSSS total score was seen in the female gender in comparison for male gender. The A-DSSS revealed good psychometric properties and may be a useful tool for assessing depression and somatic symptoms in this population. The study also identified potential factors associated with depression and somatic symptoms, such as physical activity, calorie consumption, and gender, which may have implications in addressing depression and somatic symptoms for future interventions and clinical practice.

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and measurement properties of the Arabic version of the pain sensitivity questionnaire

Background

The Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire (PSQ) is a reliable and valid self-reported tool for the assessment of pain sensitivity in clinical practice. The PSQ has been translated, validated, and cross-culturally adapted into multiple languages. However, a validated Arabic version of the PSQ is not available. Thus, this study aims to translate, validate, and cross-culturally adapt the English version of the PSQ into the Arabic language.

Methods and materials

The English version of the PSQ was translated and culturally adapted into Arabic following international guidelines. The psychometric properties of the final version of the PSQ-Arabic (PSQ-A) were tested among 119 patients with different persistent musculoskeletal (MSK) pain.

Findings

The Cronbach's α for the PSQ-A-total, PSQ-A-moderate, and PSQ-C-minor were 0.81, 0.79, and 0.76, respectively. The means for the PSQ-A-total, PSQ-A-moderate, and PSQ-C-minor scores were 5.07 (±1.28), 5.64 (±2.07), and 4.50 (±0.50). The test-retest reliability measured with the interclass correlation coefficient for 68 subjects was 0.80 for the PSQ-A-total, 0.74 for the PSQ-A-moderate, and 0.77 for the PSQ-A-minor. The PSQ-A-total and the PSQ-A-minor showed positive significant correlations with pain catastrophizing scale (PCS) (r = 0.15, 0.17); P ≤ 0.05), respectively. The PSQ-A-total, PSQ-A-moderate, and PSQ-A-minor showed positive significant correlations with the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI)-pain scores (r = 0.47, 0.43, 0.45; P ≤ 0.01), respectively and with the BPI-pain interference scores (r = 0.37, 0.33, 0.34; P ≤ 0.01), respectively.

Conclusions

This study shows that the PSQ-A is a reliable and valid tool to assess individuals with pain sensitivity in Arabic populations. Further studies are recommended to examine the concurrent validity of the PSQ-A against experimental pain sensitivity measures.

Translation and Validation of an Arabic Version of the Voice Disability Coping Questionnaire

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESES

Voice disorders can significantly affect the quality of life. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate an Arabic version of the voice disability coping questionnaire (A-VDCQ) for use in Arabic-speaking populations with dysphonia.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional study involving the translation and cultural adaptation of the VDCQ into Arabic. The validation process included reliability and validity assessments. Participants were categorized into cases (individuals with dysphonia) and controls (individuals without dysphonia) to compare coping strategies between the two groups.

METHODS

ccccccccThe 15-item VDCQ was translated from English into Arabic using the forward and backward translation methods. The questionnaire's reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC). Validity was evaluated by comparing cases and controls using the Mann-Whitney test. Differences in coping strategies across different diagnoses were examined using the Kruskal-Wallis test.

RESULTS

The A-VDCQ demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.769) and excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.993). Significant differences in coping strategies between the cases and controls were also observed (P < 0.001), supporting the instrument's validity. Notably, item 4, which is related to information seeking, had the highest impact score among the cases. However, no statistically significant differences were found in coping strategies across different diagnoses (P = 0.249).

CONCLUSIONS

The A-VDCQ demonstrated robust psychometric properties for assessing coping strategies in individuals with voice disorders and such strategies' potential implications for clinical practice and research.

Validity and Reliability of the Arabic Version of the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18

The present study translated and validated an Arabic version of the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18 (TFEQ-R18), which assesses eating behaviour traits among Arabic speakers in the three domains: cognitive restraint (CR), uncontrolled eating (UE), and emotional eating (EE). Three bilingual experts first translated the English questionnaire into Arabic, and the questionnaire's comprehension was tested among 298 Arabic speakers. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) tested the model fit and flagged four items in the questionnaire with low consistency. These items were modified, and the revised Arabic version of TFEQ-R18 was validated in a population of 513 individuals. Validity was evaluated using CFA and Pearson's correlation coefficients, internal consistency using Cronbach's α, and the reproducibility of the questionnaire was confirmed with Bland-Altman analysis and T-test. The construct validity of the Arabic TFEQ-R18 was evaluated by comparing the response score in the population based on gender, BMI and age group. CFA confirmed that the model fit is good and strongly agrees with the collected data. Except for item 15 in the CR domain, all questions showed moderate to high correlation within their respective domains. The Cronbach's α for UE, EE, and CR domains recorded was 0.778, 0.784 and 0.588, respectively. Item 15 had the lowest consistency in the Arabic-TFEQ-R18, and Cronbach's α increased to 0.608 with its removal. There was no significant difference between the first and second attempts of the Arabic TFEQ-R18, indicating good test-retest reliability. Moreover, UE and EE were positively correlated to the BMI of the participants (r = 0.159, p = 0·000; r = 0.158, p = 0·000, respectively). The study concludes that the Arabic TFEQ is a valid and reliable tool for studying the three psychometric domains of UE, EE and CR among Arabic speakers.

Psychometric testing of the nurse professional competence scale Arabic version: An exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses

AIM

To translate the Nurse Professional Competence Scale-Short Form English version into Arabic and psychometrically validate its properties among Saudi citizen nurses.

BACKGROUND

Evaluating nurses' professional competence is vital in delivering safe, cost-effective care and developing healthcare systems. However, psychometrically reliable and validated nurse competence scales in Arabic-speaking countries remain scant.

DESIGN

A descriptive cross-sectional design adhering to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines.

METHODS

Participant nurses (n = 598) were conveniently recruited from four government-owned hospitals and completed the Arabic-translated 35-item Nurse Professional Competence Scale-Short Form. We used Spearman's rank-order correlation, exploratory factor analysis, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test, and confirmatory factor analysis to analyze the data.

RESULTS

After exploratory factor analysis and reliability analyses, several items of the Arabic-translated 35-item Nurse Professional Competence Scale-Short Form were omitted due to high inter-item correlations and low factor loading difference. The Arabic version of the Nurse Professional Competence Scale-Short Form was reduced to 21 items, consisting of a three-factor structure: Professional Care Pedagogics, Holistic Value-Based Care, and Direct Nursing Care. Results also demonstrated that the revised three-factor structure had good overall scale reliability, good subscale internal consistencies, and acceptable construct validity using the confirmatory factor analysis.

CONCLUSION

The 21-item Nurse Professional Competence Scale-Short Form Arabic version is a useful scale, having demonstrated construct validity and reliability. Therefore, nurse managers in Arabic-speaking nations could assess their nurses' professional competence using the 21-item Nurse Professional Competence Scale-Short Form Arabic version to develop proactive programs that enhance professional competence.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Arabic version of oxford ankle foot questionnaire for children

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the original English version of the Oxford Ankle Foot Questionnaire (OxAFQ-c) into the Arabic language, and to evaluate its psychometric properties among Arabic speaking children aged from 5 to 16 years in Saudi Arabia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An Arabic OxAFQ-c for children was developed according to established guidelines (ISPOR). The Arabic OxAFQ-c version was completed by eighty-seven patients with foot and ankle problems and their caregivers. Construct validity of the Arabic OxAFQ-c was also examined.

RESULTS

The reliability analysis of OxAFQ-Ar exhibited good internal consistency in both children's and parent's versions for all domains (α = 0.80-0.89) and excellent test-retest reliability in both versions for all domains. (ICC = 0.87-0.94). A moderate correlation between the OxAFQ-Ar and PedsQL 4.0 was observed indicating moderate construct validity.

CONCLUSIONS

The OxAFQ-c was successfully translated and cross-cultural adapted into the Arabic language. The OxAFQ-Ar is a valid, reliable and useful quality of life questionnaire for evaluating children's ankle foot problems.IMPLICATION OF REHABILITATION OF OxAFQ-c ARABIC VERSIONThe Arabic version of the OxAFQ-c is an acceptable, clear and comprehensible outcome measure.The Arabic version of the OxAFQ-c demonstrated evidence supporting its internal consistency, test-retest reliability and construct validity as a measure to evaluate foot and ankle pathologies in patients aged 5-16 years.The Arabic OxAFQ-c has very good internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and acceptable measurement error with no floor and ceiling effects.The Arabic version of the OxAFQ-c can be used in daily clinical practice and in research studies to assess children aged from 5 to 16 years in Arabic speakers with ankle-foot conditions.

"Psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the post-traumatic growth inventory with university students in Jordan

Post-traumatic Growth plays a key role to cope with traumatic incidents. The scale for Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) has been used by several researchers in different languages. This study aims to evaluate the Arabic-translated version of the PTGI scale by focusing on its validity in different languages and contexts. This study introduces an Arabic version of the PTGI-M normed with 417 undergraduate students at a large university in Jordan. The internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and test-retest reliability of the instrument were 0.97 and 0.82, respectively. Bivariate correlation was used to approximate the concurrent validity (CV). Significant correlations were found between the PTGI-M and the beck depression inventory (BDI), perceived stress scale (PSS), Taylor's manifest anxiety (TMAS), satisfaction with life (SWL), and the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSES). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to assess the convergent and discriminant validity of the translated scale. Convergent and discriminant validity was established for the Arabic version of the PTGI-M by conducting a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). In conclusion, this study proposes that future investigations should consider analysing the total PTGI-M subtotal scores to comprehend the complexity of the post-traumatic growth experience.

Psychometric properties of an Arabic translation of the quality of life in childhood epilepsy questionnaire (QOLCE-55)

OBJECTIVE

To develop an Arabic translation of the Quality of Life in Children with Epilepsy-55 questionnaire (QOLCE-55), and to assess its validity and reliability to be readily used in Arabic and Egyptian cultures.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The original English version of the QOLCE-55 was translated into Arabic using a forward-backward translation method, and then a cross-sectional survey was conducted including 100 children with epilepsy aged 4-18 years. Caregivers of children completed the Arabic version of the QOLCE-55. Assessment of psychometric properties of the translated questionnaire was conducted using test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and convergent and divergent validity.

RESULTS

The translated questionnaire showed excellent test-retest reliability with the intra-class correlation coefficient for all questionnaire domains, as well as the overall questionnaire ranging from 0.91 to 0.98. Cronbach alpha exceeded 0.7 denoting good internal consistency except for the emotional functioning scale. Convergent and divergent validity assessment showed that items of all domains significantly correlated with their scale scores with r > 0.4 and these correlations were much higher than correlations with other scales' scores, consistent with good convergent and divergent validity. The mean total HRQOL score was 65.63 ± 8.79 with the highest score for social functioning domain and lowest score for physical functioning domain.

CONCLUSION

The Arabic version of the QOLCE-55 can be considered a suitable, reliable, and valid tool to assess the HRQOL of children with epilepsy through their caregivers' reports.

Validation of a translated version of the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) cervical myelopathy score in an Arabic speaking population

Introduction: Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy (DCM) is a growing disorder. Standardization of its assessment tools is an integral part of its management. The modified Japanese orthopedic association (mJOA) score is one of the most commonly used tools. Currently, there is no available Arabic translated version of any cervical myelopathy functional score. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and measure the psychometric properties of an Arabic translated version of the mJOA. Methods: After translation of the score using the standard forward-backward translation procedure, a validation study including 100 patients was carried out from June 2019 to June 2020. The following psychometric properties were measured: feasibility, reliability, internal consistency, validity, minimal clinically important difference (MCID), ceiling, and floor effect. Results: No problems were encountered during the process of translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the score. The mJOA-AR was found to be a feasible score. It showed high inter-observer reliability (r = 0.833, P < 0.001), test-retest reliability (r = 0.987, P < 0.001) and good internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha (0.777) and Pearson interclass correlation coefficient (r = 0.717). The score showed good convergent and divergent construct validity correlating it to the Arabic validated version of the neck disability index (NDI). The mJOA-AR had an MCID of 1.506. Both the ceiling and floor effects of the total score and the first and second domains were within the acceptable range, while the third and fourth domains had a high ceiling effect (30% and 39%, respectively). Discussion: Our translated version of the mJOA score was found to be a feasible score with acceptable psychometric properties. This score can be utilized as a good outcome measure tool in Arabic-speaking countries.

Translation and Validation of the Arabic Version of the Capability Assessment for Diet and Activity (CADA) Questionnaire in Saudi University Employed Women

BACKGROUND

The Capability Assessment for Diet and Activity (CADA) is a questionnaire that was developed in English and designed to measure the practical barriers and opportunities for diet and physical activity.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the CADA questionnaire for the Arabic context in a sample of Saudi women employed at a university.

METHODS

The CADA was translated into Arabic using the forward and backward translation process. The Arabic version was then validated with a sample of 125 female Saudi participants. In order to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Arabic version, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was assessed, and a principal component analysis was performed.

RESULTS

The translated CADA had good psychometric quality. The content validity analysis revealed a representativeness score of 99.3% and a degree of clarity of 98.6%, indicating excellent compatibility. The principal component analysis showed a single-factor structure.

CONCLUSIONS

The Arabic version of the CADA questionnaire is now available to assess opportunities to achieve a healthy diet and physical activity level as part of health behavior management, which can lead to more effective interventions for improving people's health in Arabic-speaking countries.

Validation of the cultural adaptation of the Kujala score in Arabic

BACKGROUND

Patellofemoral pain is a common condition. The Kujala score is a well-established scoring system to assess anterior knee pain and has been translated into many languages including Arabic. The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to culturally adapt the Arabic version of the Kujala score and determine its validity.

METHODS

The Kujala score is composed of 13 multiple-choice questions. We modified two questions in the score; running and squatting, and were replaced with questions related to walking on different terrain and prostration, each with the same number of answer choices as the original questions so as not to affect the final score. These modifications were written in Arabic by the same group who translated and validated the original score into Arabic. The original and modified Kujala scores was printed and given to patients complaining of patellofemoral pain to be filled during their visit to the orthopedic outpatient clinics. Final scores for the original and modified questionnaires were calculated. Data was analyzed using SPSS statistics version 21.0 measuring Cronbach's alpha, intraclass correlation coefficient, and Pearson correlation.

RESULTS

Ninety-four patients were included in the study, 28 (29.8%) men and 66 (70.2%) women. The mean age for the included patients was 43.67 (± 14.46) years. The mean score for the modified initial questionnaire was 63.91 (± 16.32), and the mean score for the modified re-test questionnaire was 66.52 (± 17.50). There was a statistically significant difference between the mean scores (p = 0.041), with a mean difference of 1.97 (95% CI 0.08 to 3.856). We found a significant strong correlation between the score before and after changing the questions with a p value of < 0.001.

CONCLUSIONS

The culturally modified Arabic Kujala questionnaire is shown to be a valid, well-designed tool and an appropriate method of measuring patellofemoral pain.

Translation, Adaptation, and Validation of Chronic Kidney Disease Self-Management and Knowledge Instruments for People at Pre-Dialysis Stage in the Arab World

Knowledge is critical for self- management, however there are no measures available in Arabic to effectively assess knowledge and self-management for chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study was to translate, culturally adapt, and validate Chronic Kidney Disease Self-Management Instrument-29 (CKD-SM-29) and Kidney Disease Knowledge survey (KiKs) for use by Arabic-speaking health professionals and patients. The study was carried out in two phases: translation and cultural adaptation, and validation. Instruments were translated from English to Arabic then adapted and validated using 203 pre-dialysis CKD patients. Face validity and internal consistency were demonstrated for Arabic versions of CKD-SM-29 and KiKs. Cronbach's α for the CKD-SM-29 was .91 for KiKS was .78. Test-retest revealed good stability over a 1-week period. Intra Class Correlation coefficient for CKD-SM-29 was .90 and was .78 for KiKS. Convergent and discriminative validity were also demonstrated for the translated instruments. The validity and reliability of the Arabic CKD-SM-29 and KiKs were demonstrated. The translated instruments are culturally adapted and will support care of patients with CKD in Arabic-speaking countries.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Arabic Version of Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire (MSK-HQ-Ar)

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) affect millions of people worldwide. Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire (MSK-HQ) is a valid and reliable tool to assess the health of patients with MSD. However, this scale is not available in the Arabic language. The purpose of this study was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire (MSK-HQ) into Arabic (MSK-HQ-Ar) and evaluate its validity and reliability among participants with MSD. Methods: This cross-sectional study used guidelines from the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) to translate as well as validate the psychometric properties of MSK-HQ-Ar. Patients with MSD (n = 149) living in Taif participated in the study. Cronbach’s alpha and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were used to assess internal consistency and test-retest reliability of MSK-HQ-Ar respectively. Spearman’s correlation was used to assess the correlation between MSK-HQ-Ar and the European quality of life five-dimension, five-level scale (EQ-5D-5L). Results: Out of 149 participants, 119 completed the MSK-HQ-Ar twice. The scale showed good internal consistency, Cronbach’s alpha (0.88), and reliability (ICC 0.92–0.95). A strong association was found with the EQ-5D-5L scores. Conclusion: The adapted MSK-HQ-Arabic version revealed acceptable psychometric properties and is a valid and reliable outcome measure to assess MSK health among Arabic speaking patients with MSD.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Arabic Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale in schizophrenia: Qualitative analysis of a focus group

As part of a project to translate and validate scales used in the diagnosis and treatment of Arab patients with schizophrenia, this study aimed to explore the experience of clinical research coordinators (CRCs) while administering the Arabic version of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) on Arab schizophrenia patients. We previously reported that the Arabic version of PANSS is a valid and reliable tool to assess Arab patients with schizophrenia. Five CRCs and the principal investigator attended focus group discussions on cultural issues in administering the PANSS. A thematic analysis approach was utilized for data coding and analysis. The results identified issues related to the translation of the instrument, the structure of the interview, the cultural sensitivity of some questions, and the procedures for rating items of the PANSS. Qualitative analysis also identified four main themes relevant to clinical assessment of patients from Middle Eastern cultures: religion, beliefs and values, gender, and semantic expressions. In conclusion, researchers or clinicians administering the PANSS scale interview in Arabic should be trained to consider the roles of local dialects, familiarity with abstract thinking, religion, and social constructs when assessing psychosis.

The factor structure and psychometric properties of an Arabic-translated version of the Body Appreciation Scale-2

PURPOSE

The conduct of body image studies with Arab populations is hindered by a lack of psychometrically sound assessment measures. We examined the psychometric properties of an Arabic translation of the most frequently employed measure of body appreciation, the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2).

DESIGN AND METHODS

A sample of college-aged women from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (n = 256) completed the Arabic BAS-2, and measures of aesthetic and functional body image, authentic body pride, and self-reported body mass index (BMI).

RESULTS

Exploratory factor analysis revealed that the Arabic BAS-2 had a one-dimensional factor structure. BAS-2 scores were positively correlated with body image and body pride, but not with BMI.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

A psychometrically sound BAS-2 may now facilitate the conduct of cross-cultural work that includes the Arabic-speaking population, an often-neglected ethnic group in most body image studies.

Translation and validation of the stroke specific quality of life scale into Arabic

BACKGROUND

There is a need to validate one of the specific stroke quality of life (QOL) scales into Arabic.

OBJECTIVE

To translate and validate the stroke specific quality of life (SSQOL) into Arabic.

METHODS

The SSQOL was translated into Arabic (SSQOL-A) according to a forward/backward translation protocol. 147 first time stroke survivors and 60 healthy subjects were recruited. Cronbach's α was used to measure internal consistency, test-retest reliability was measured by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Acceptability was established by studying floor and ceiling effects. A linear correlation between SSQOL-A and the Short Form 36, the Beck Depression Inventory II, the Barthel Index and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale was done to assess construct validity. Discriminant and convergent validity were evaluated by correlating item to scale of each of the domains using Pearson correlation (rp).

RESULTS

The SSQOL-A has shown good internal consistency (Cronbach's α  = 0.78-0.94) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.77-0.94). It has also shown acceptable construct validity (r2 = 0.06-0.55). Item to scale correlation showed acceptable convergent (0.76-0.98) and discriminant (0.12-0.53) validity. Mann-Whitney U test showed the ability of the SSQOL-A to differentiate between stroke survivors and healthy participants QOL.

CONCLUSIONS

SSQOL-A has good validity and reliability for patients with mild to moderate stroke.

Assessment of chronic sinonasal dysfunction and cross-cultural adaptation of the DyNaChron questionnaire

OBJECTIVE

Sinonasal pathologies generate six principal symptoms with major organic and psychosocial impact that can be studied on a self-administered questionnaire assessing chronic sinonasal dysfunction independently of etiology. The objective of the present study was to translate, culturally adapt and validate the DyNaChron questionnaire for Arabic-speaking Moroccan patients.

METHODS

The translation and cross-cultural adaptation of DyNaChron followed international guidelines. 164 patients filled out the questionnaire at day 0 and day 7 (without treatment) and day 60 after treatment. A prospective multicenter study validated the questionnaire for internal consistency, test-retest reliability and sensitivity to change.

RESULTS

Mean age was 35 years, with male predominance (63%). Nasal obstruction was the most frequent symptom (97.6%). Internal consistency on Cronbach alpha was high (0.97). Reproducibility on intraclass correlation (ICC) was excellent (0.84). Sensitivity to change was excellent for the majority of patients (effect size=0.97-6.69; SRM=2.47-6.74).

CONCLUSION

This study of a cross-cultural Moroccan adaptation of the DyNaChron questionnaire showed good validity, reproducibility and sensitivity to change, and better representation of all symptoms generated by chronic sinonasal dysfunction. It can be used to evaluate the psychosocial and organic impact of chronic sinonasal dysfunction and to assess treatment.

Translation and validation of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant (FACT-BMT) version 4 quality of life instrument into Arabic language

Background

Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant (FACT-BMT) has been translated from English into several languages. Currently, there is no validated translation of FACT-BMT in Arabic. Here, we are reporting the first Arabic translation and validation of the FACT-BMT.

Methods

The study was approved by the Institutional Research Advisory Council. The Arabic translation followed the standard Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT.org) translation methodology (with permission). Arabic FACT-BMT (50- items) was statistically validated. Cronbach’s alpha for internal consistency, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients method for Inter-scale correlations and Principal Component Analysis for factorial construct validity was used.

Results

One hundred and eight consecutive relapsed /refractory lymphoma patients who underwent high dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant were enrolled. There were 68 males (63%) and 40 females (37%) with a median age of 29 years (range 14–62). After Arabic questionnaire pre-testing (Cronbach’s alpha 0.744), the study included 108 patients. Cronbach’s alpha for the entire FACT-BMT indicated an excellent internal consistency (0.90); range (0.67 to 0.91). Cronbach’s alpha for sub-groups of social (0.78), emotional (0.67) and functional wellbeing was (0.88). Cronbach’s alpha for bone marrow transplant (0.81), FACT-General (0.89), and FACT- Trial Outcome Index (TOI); (0.91) also revealed excellent internal consistency. Patients had high scores in all domains of quality of life, indicating that most patients were leading a normal life. This translation of FACT-BMT in Arabic was reviewed and approved for submission by the FACIT.org.

Conclusions

Our data reports the first translated, validated and approved Arabic version of FACT-BMT. This will help large numbers of Arabic speaking patients undergoing stem cell/bone marrow transplantation, across the globe.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12955-018-0861-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Testing of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to develop the Arabic version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (A-HADS) and test its psychometric proprieties for the assessment of anxiety and depression in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

METHOD

The A-HADS and Quality of Life Index Pulmonary version were completed by 67 Jordanian patients with COPD.

RESULTS

Cronbach's alpha coefficient has been found to be 0.75 for the A-HADS anxiety subscale and 0.82 for the A-HADS depression subscale. A-HADS scores correlated significantly with the Quality of Life Index Pulmonary version and demonstrated construct validity.

IMPLICATIONS

This preliminary validation study supports the A-HADS as a reliable and valid instrument for the assessment of anxiety and depression in Arabic speaking patients with COPD.

Dyspnea-12-Arabic: testing of an instrument to measure breathlessness in Arabic patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to develop the Dyspnoea-12-Arabic (D-12-A) questionnaire and test its reliability and validity for the assessment of breathlessness in Arabic speaking patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Jordan.

BACKGROUND

Breathlessness is a complex multidimensional symptom which incorporates physiology and psychology.

METHODS

The D-12-A, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Quality of Life Index pulmonary version (QLI-P) were completed by 67 Jordanian patients with COPD. Cronbach alpha was used to assess internal consistency, and Pearson product-moment correlation calculated for construct validity.

RESULTS

The D-12-A and its sub-components ('physical' and 'affective') demonstrated excellent internal reliability (Cronbach alpha range from 0.88 to 0.91). D-12-A scores correlated significantly with other relevant outcome measures and demonstrated good construct validity.

CONCLUSIONS

The D-12-A should provide clinicians and researchers with a useful tool for the assessment of breathlessness in Arabic speaking patients with COPD.