3038.0: Monday, November 13, 2000 - Board 3

Abstract #12551

Ensuring cultural appropriateness in the translation of survey instruments into Spanish

Robert Weech-Maldonado, PhD1, Leo S. Morales, MD2, Beverly Weidmer, MA3, and Ron D. Hays, PhD2. (1) Health Policy & Administration, Pennsylvania State University, 116 Henderson Building, University Park, PA 16801, (814) 865-1926, rxw25@psu.edu, (2) UCLA/RAND, (3) RAND

Health care organizations need to adapt to the demands of changing patient populations, including developing culturally competent services for the populations served. This will require knowledge of the needs, beliefs, attitudes, practices, and communication patterns of patients. As such, it is important to develop survey instruments that can accurately capture the health care needs of racial and ethnic minorities. In many instances, this implies translating surveys from the English language to other languages. However, researchers need to ensure that the translated instruments are culturally competent and linguistically appropriate for the target population.

The purpose of this study is to assess the cultural appropriateness of the Spanish version of the Consumer Assessment of Health Plans (CAHPS), a survey that aims to assess the experience of health plan members with the care received. Producing a survey instrument that is culturally appropriate for Hispanics in the United States requires subjecting the Spanish-language instruments to rigorous testing. That testing must include conducting focus groups and cognitive interviews that evaluate the cultural appropriateness of the survey content as well as the cognitive task required in the survey instrument, determining the reading level of survey instruments in Spanish, and field testing the survey instrument to ensure that the survey measures perform equally well in Spanish and English. Focus groups and cognitive interviews are currently being conducted in San Diego, New York, and Miami. By conducting focus groups across these sites, we will incorporate Hispanics of Mexican, Puerto Rican and Cuban origins in our focus groups.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1. Identify the steps involved in evaluating the cultural appropriateness of a survey instrument. 2. Describe the importance of using both quantitative and qualitative research methods in cross-cultural research. 3. Understand the importance of examining Latino subgroups in health surveys

Keywords: Cultural Competency, Survey

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA