Arabic translation and cultural adaptation of sedentary behavior, dietary habits, and preclinical mobility limitation questionnaires: A cognitive interview study

BACKGROUND: Developing global evidence on the influence of health-related behaviors (e.g., sedentary behavior, diet) and mobility limitations on health requires global consortia from diverse sets of countries. Thus, the purpose was to translate and culturally adapt (i) the Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ); (ii) the Dietary Habits Questionnaire adapted from the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) study; (iii) the Preclinical Mobility Limitation questionnaire for use in the Saudi Arabian context.

METHOD: 50 adult Saudi participants (mean age 41.7±9.6, 48% female) participated in this study. We followed a systematic cross-cultural adaptation process that involved forward translation, synthesis, back-translation, expert panel, and pre-testing (cognitive interviewing). Four rounds of cognitive interviews were held with 40 participants for the SBQ, SHARE questionnaire, and the Preclinical Mobility Limitation questionnaire, an additional round was needed for the Preclinical Mobility Limitation questionnaire. Descriptive data (means ± standard deviations and frequencies with percentages) were reported for characteristics.

RESULT: With some minor changes to the questionnaires, the SBQ, Dietary Habits, and Preclinical Mobility Limitation questionnaires were translated and cross-culturally adapted into Arabic. 100% of the participants confirmed that the resulting Arabic versions of the SBQ, Dietary Habits questionnaire, and Preclinical Mobility Limitation questionnaires were appropriate and fully understandable for Arabic speakers in communicating the intended meanings of the items in each. For example, item SBQ1, 'Watching television (including videos on VCR/DVD)' was changed to 'Sitting and watching television or videos (including smartphones, tablets)'.

CONCLUSION: The SBQ, Dietary Habits questionnaire, and Preclinical Mobility Limitation questionnaire were successfully cross-culturally adapted into Arabic and are now ready for use in Saudi Arabian.