Issues of instrument translation in research on Asian immigrant populations

Abstract

Health disparity research often includes non-English-speaking populations, and instrument translation is a major methodological issue with which researchers must contend. Yet most existing nursing research do not adequately describe translation method processes used. This article describes the procedures used to translate the Caregiver Reaction Assessment instrument into Ilocano for use in a study with elderly Filipinos caring for their grandchildren and the Parenting Practice Interview into Korean for use in a study of parenting practices among Korean immigrant parents. An explanation of Brislin's method for instrument translation is first provided, followed by a detailed description of how this method was applied in the two studies and the challenges encountered in assessing translation accuracy. Achieving semantic and content equivalence posed a major challenge in both studies. Recommendations for cross-cultural nursing research are provided; the experiences described in this article illuminate translation issues to be considered by nurse researchers.