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A systematic and critical review of the process of translation and adaptation of generic health-related quality of life measures in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, South America

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  • Bowden, Annabel
  • Fox-Rushby, Julia A.

Abstract

In recent years there has been a worldwide increase in demand for subjective measures of health-related quality of life (HRQL). Researchers have the choice of whether to develop a new measure or whether to adapt an existing measure in another language. This review evaluates the processes used in translating and adapting nine generic HRQL instruments (15D, Dartmouth COOP/WONCA Charts, EuroQol, HUI, NHP, SIP, SF-36, QWB, WHOQOL) for use in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and South America. The review adopts a universalist model of equivalence, outlined by Herdman, Fox-Rushby, and Badia (Qual. Life Res. 7 (1998) 323), to judge the 58 papers reviewed. Research spans 23 countries and is dominated by research in the East Asia and Pacific region and the SF-36. Results are reported for conceptual, item, semantic, operational, measurement and functional equivalence. It is argued that currently there is a misguided pre-occupation with scales rather than the concepts being scaled and too much reliance on unsubstantiated claims of conceptual equivalence. However, researchers using the WHOQOL approach are more likely to establish reliable conclusions concerning the equivalence of their instrument across countries. It is a key conclusion of this review that research practice and translation guidelines still need to change to facilitate more effective and less biased assessments of equivalence of HRQL measures across countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Bowden, Annabel & Fox-Rushby, Julia A., 2003. "A systematic and critical review of the process of translation and adaptation of generic health-related quality of life measures in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, South America," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 57(7), pages 1289-1306, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:57:y:2003:i:7:p:1289-1306
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    Cited by:

    1. Gavan, Luana & Hartog, Kim & Koppenol-Gonzalez, Gabriela V. & Gronholm, Petra C. & Feddes, Allard R. & Kohrt, Brandon A. & Jordans, Mark J.D. & Peters, Ruth M.H., 2022. "Assessing stigma in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review of scales used with children and adolescents," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    2. Suzanne M. Skevington & Richard Emsley & Svenja Dehner & Ian Walker & Stuart E. Reynolds, 2019. "Does Subjective Health Affect the Association between Biodiversity and Quality of Life? Insights from International Data," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 14(5), pages 1315-1331, November.
    3. Peter John Huxley & Kara Chan & Marcus Chiu & Yanni Ma & Sarah Gaze & Sherrill Evans, 2016. "The social and community opportunities profile social inclusion measure: Structural equivalence and differential item functioning in community mental health residents in Hong Kong and the United Kingd," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 62(2), pages 133-140, March.
    4. Skevington, S.M. & Böhnke, J.R., 2018. "How is subjective well-being related to quality of life? Do we need two concepts and both measures?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 22-30.
    5. David Bishai, 2007. "Book Review," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 55(4), pages 852-856, July.

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