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

Public Health Nutrition

Anna M Napoles¹  Christine ML Kwan¹  Hilary K Seligman¹  Jeyling Chou¹ 

关键词: Food insecurity;    Measurement;    Chinese;    Survey;   

DOI  :  10.1017/S1368980014000160

学科分类：卫生学

来源: Cambridge University Press

【 摘 要 】

AbstractObjectiveTo develop a conceptually equivalent Chinese-language translation of the eighteen-item US Household Food Security Survey Module.DesignIn 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.SettingCommunity sites in San Francisco, CA, USA.SubjectsWe conducted cognitive interviews with twenty-two community members recruited from community sites hosting food pantries and with five professionals recruited from clinical settings.ResultsDevelopment 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.ConclusionsSurvey 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.

【 授权许可】

Unknown