Preparing research instruments for use with different cultures

Accepted 14 December 2009.

Summary

There is a growing requirement to use standardised instruments for collecting research data and monitoring patient progress. Two sets of properties should be addressed when selecting and adapting research instruments: psychometric properties (validity, appropriateness, reliability, and responsiveness) and clinical properties (feasibility and acceptability of the instrument). This paper outlines steps necessary to fulfil these requirements when using a research instrument in different cultures.

Keywords: Research instruments, Validity, Reliability, Translation, Multicultural, International

a Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, UK

b Division of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

c Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, General Intensive Care Unit, PO Box 12000, 91120 Jerusalem, Israel

d Spital Maennedorf, Asylstr, 8708 Maennedorf, Switzerland

Corresponding author at: Faculty of Health, Centre Court, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK. Tel.: +44 1752 587488; fax: +44 1752 586748.

1 Tel.: +972 2 6778060; fax: +972 2 6430349.

2 Tel.: +41 44 922 20 60; fax: +41 44 922 20 67.

PII: S0964-3397(09)00115-3

doi:10.1016/j.iccn.2009.12.005

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