Development of a conceptually equivalent Chinese-language translation of the US Household Food Security Survey Module for Chinese immigrants to the USA

Datos Bibliográficos

ID15091028
AutoresChristine M L Kwan (0000-0002-2385-1639, San Francisco General Hospital), Christine ML Kwan, Anna María Nápoles (0000-0001-8838-2899, San Francisco General Hospital), Jeyling Chou (San Francisco General Hospital), Hilary K Seligman (0000-0003-2292-5189, San Francisco General Hospital, autor de correspondencia)
Año2015
Volumen18
Número2
Páginas242-250
Fecha de publicación2015-02-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaPublic Health Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727
EditorialCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s1368980014000160
PMID24642365
PMCIDPMC4169349
OpenAlexW2100373859
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas4
Referencias citadas12

Objective To develop a conceptually equivalent Chinese-language translation of the eighteen-item US Household Food Security Survey Module. Design In the current qualitative study, we (i) highlight methodological challenges which arise in developing survey instruments that will be used to make comparisons across language groups and (ii) describe the development of a Chinese-language translation of the US Household Food Security Survey Module, called the San Francisco Chinese Food Security Module. Setting Community sites in San Francisco, CA, USA. Subjects We conducted cognitive interviews with twenty-two community members recruited from community sites hosting food pantries and with five professionals recruited from clinical settings. Results Development of conceptually equivalent surveys can be difficult. We highlight challenges related to dialect, education, literacy (e.g. preferences for more or less formal phrasing), English words and phrases for which there is no Chinese language equivalent (e.g. ‘balanced meals’ and ‘eat less than you felt you should’) and response formats. We selected final translations to maximize: (i) consistency of the Chinese translation with the intent of the English version; (ii) clarity; and (iii) similarities in understanding across dialects and literacy levels. Conclusions Survey translation is essential for conducting research in many communities. The challenges encountered illustrate how literal translations can affect the conceptual equivalence of survey items across languages. Cognitive interview methods should be routinely used for survey translation when such non-equivalence is suspected, such as in surveys addressing highly culturally bound behaviours such as diet and eating behaviours. Literally translated surveys lacking conceptual equivalence may magnify or obscure important health inequalities

CLARITY · Cognition · Food security · Geography · Health care · Health literacy · Immigration · Linguistics · Literal translation · Political science · Computer Science · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Nutritional Studies and Diet · Psychology · Survey Methodology and Nonresponse · Artificial Intelligence