Affiliations: Department of Research & Development, Danish Centre for Assistive Technology, P.P. Ørumsgade 11, Bygning 3, DK-8000 Århus C, Denmark. Tel.: +45 87 412 407; Fax: +45 86 75 36 67; E-mail: aab@hmi.dk
Abstract: Outcome evaluation is important, but only few assessment instruments are available in the field of assistive technology. It was decided to translate and adapt the QUEST 1.0 (the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with assistive Technology 1.0) into Danish language and culture instead of constructing a new instrument. A number of methods were applied including forward- and backward translation, multidisciplinary discussions, pre-testing and a larger test focusing on cross-cultural equivalence and content validity. The study showed that a systematic and comprehensive translation and cross-cultural adaptation process is necessary and valuable, and that the methods used were useful for revealing equivalence and validity problems, even though backward translation turned out to be less efficient. Besides, the substantial need for adaptation attracted attention to the question of how close a translated version should be to the original version. The study uncovered more equivalence problems than reported in similar studies, probably due to the target group of this study being mainly older people requiring rather colloquial language. In the study the instrument was adapted, aspects of content validity of the Danish QUEST 1.0 were investigated, and further studies were suggested.
