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. 2024 Jan 11:10:1236273.
doi: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1236273. eCollection 2023.

Translation of the working alliance inventory short revised into Italian using a Delphi procedure and a forward-backward translation

Nicola Buono  1 , Béatrice Sassier  2 , Hans Thulesius  3 , Robert Hoffman  4 , Patrice Nabbe  2 , Davorina Petek  5 , Jean Yves Le Reste  2
Affiliations

Translation of the working alliance inventory short revised into Italian using a Delphi procedure and a forward-backward translation

Nicola Buono et al. Front Med (Lausanne). .

Abstract

Introduction: Enhancing treatment adherence, especially for chronic diseases, can be achieved through therapeutic alliance, potentially elevating the quality of care. An instrument to evaluate the therapeutic alliance could be beneficial in routine clinical settings, educational environments, and extensive research efforts at national and European levels. In this study, we translated therapist and patient versions of the Working Alliance Inventory Short Revised (WAI-SR) into Italian.

Methodology: An email-based Delphi method was employed for the English-to-Italian translation, incorporating a forward-backward process. The initial translation team comprised two Italian family physicians proficient in English, a linguist, and a psychiatrist. The forward translation was then reviewed by 18 Italian family physicians through a Delphi process and was subjected to a backward translation by two Italian English teachers. A cultural correspondence was subsequently identified to adjust translations within a national and international framework.

Results: All 18 experts fully engaged in the Delphi process, and consensus was achieved by the second Delphi round. A cultural check checked for discrepancies regarding linguistic consistency with other translations and found no difference.

Conclusion: This Italian translation of the WAI-SR is expected to support Italian family physicians aiming to enhance their clinical practice and therapeutic outcomes. It could also be a valuable tool for Italian medical students to foster therapeutic relationships and improve their communication skills.

Keywords: Delphi procedure; Italian general practice; WAI-SR Italian; forward-backward translation; therapeutic alliance.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Translation and cross-cultural adaption process flow chart for the WAI-SR into Italian.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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