Canadian French translation and linguistic validation of the health-related quality of life utility measure for pre-school children

ABSTRACT

Background

There is a need to perform a Canadian French translation and linguistic validation of the health-related quality of life utility measure for pre-school children (HuPS) conceptually equivalent to the original Canadian English version.

Research design and methods

The translation process consisted of forward and back translations. The linguistic validation was performed with the parents of preschool children during face-to-face cognitive debriefing interviews. The whole process was done in accordance with academic standards and the guidance of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for patient-reported outcome instruments.

Results

The results of back translations indicated that 89% of the sentences were identical or almost identical to the original English-language wording. The review of the back translations led to a change in 13 sentences out of 91 from the reconciled forward translation, while the linguistic validation process with 13 parents led to 14 additional changes. Preliminary reliability validation results indicate a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.73.

Conclusion

The translation and linguistic testing processes were successful in creating a valid HuPS in Canadian French (HuPS-CF). This translation should be the subject of reliability and validity studies in a wide variety of clinical and general populations before to use in research projects.

KEYWORDS:

• Canadian French translation
• linguistic validation
• health utilities
• preschool
• pediatric
• forward and back translations

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge all participants to this study and Jade Berbari for his support. TGP is member of the FRQS-funded Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal. TGP, JRG and CC are fellows of the FRQS.

Authors’ contribution

TGP conceived the study, analyzed data, wrote and revised the manuscript. DF and WF interpreted results and revised the manuscript. JRG, GP, CG and MT collected data and revised the manuscript. CC conceived the study and revised the manuscript.

Availability of data

Data are presented in the manuscript.

Consent for publication

Participants provided written consent for publication.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Ethical considerations

This study was approved by the ethics committee of the CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS (#2020-3429). This ethics committee is in charge for all projects conducted in health sciences for researchers from the University of Sherbrooke. The CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS is the academic hospital for the University of Sherbrooke. Written consent from participants was obtained prior to the cognitive debriefing interviews.

Reviewers Disclosure

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.