Cross-cultural Adaptation of the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Device Scale (PIADS) for Puerto Rican Assistive Technology Users

Abstract

Assistive technology (AT) is important for individuals with disabilities' independence and participation in daily life, and there is a lack of valid AT outcome tools for the Puerto Rican population. This pilot study examined the content validity of a new adaptation of the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Device Scale (PIADS): the Puerto Rican-Spanish PIADS (PR-PIADS). Following standard procedures, the cultural adaptation methodology included a bilingual multidisciplinary committee review of the original (English language) and Spanish versions of the PIADS and pilot testing of the preliminary version of the PR-PIADS with 20 AT users. The committee recommended a total of 58 semantic and conceptual modifications of the Spanish PIADS. Pilot data analysis resulted in 4 additional semantic and conceptual modifications of items that did not reach the minimum content validity ratio of 0.42 for a panel composed by 20 members: competence (0), efficiency (−0.6), performance (−0.95), and eagerness to take chances (−0.6). This pilot study demonstrated evidence of initial content validity of the PR-PIADS. Future research is required before using this tool with greater confidence to address the construct validity and reliability that are also critical to a successful cultural adaptation.

Keywords:

• assistive devices
• outcome measures
• psychometric properties
• psychosocial well-being
• quality of life

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Puerto Rico Assistive Technology Program for financial support in this study. Editorial support was provided by Dr. Mary Helen Mays, Puerto Rico Clinical and Translational Research Consortium, funded by the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) (U54 RR 026139-01A1), and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (8U54 MD 007587-03) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of NCRR or NIH.