A study on developing minimum requirement guidelines for standard questionnaire translation, validation using delphi method

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: A standard questionnaire is usually characterized by a set of questions, a scoring method, and psychometric properties. But many studies suggested that previously translated standard questionnaires in Korea had been used without testing translation validity, scoring system and psychometric properties. METHODS: After developing a preliminary delphi questionnaire from references by a researcher, it was modified from pretest procedure, which was performed to 6 family physicians who had experiences in translating standard questionnaires. Some experts were chosen among authors of standard questionnaire translation articles in four questionnaire related journals and others were recommended by other experts. RESULTS: The total number of experts was 53 including 22 family physicians, 15 psychiatrists, 2 psychologists, 8 faculties of preventive medicine and 6 faculties of nursing. The response rates were 85%, 87%, 92% on 1st, 2nd, 3rd delphi round, respectively, and the total response rate was 69%. According to delphi surveys, minimal requirements for a standard questionnaire translation were translation by two translators, pretest techniques, consideration of age.sex.education level in pretest procedure, reliability validation, validity validation and 0.5 or more of correlation coefficient level in convergent validity validation. Minimal requirement for reliability coefficients was 0.7 or more, but the results did not reach adequate consensus. CONCLUSION: Developing minimum requirement guidelines for standard questionnaire translation using delphi method can be done.