The simplified Chinese version of SF-6Dv2 : translation, cross-cultural adaptation and preliminary psychometric testing

Purpose

To translate, cross-culturally adapt and preliminarily test the Simplified Chinese version of SF-6Dv2 among the Chinese general population.

Methods

The translation followed the international guidelines. Face-to-face cognitive debriefing was carried out in a small sample of the Chinese general population, using both think-aloud and retrospective probing methods. Preliminary psychometric properties (including acceptability, ceiling/floor effect and known-group validity) were investigated using a cross-sectional survey which was conducted in a representative sample of the general population in Tianjin, China.

Results

Translation was conducted by forward- and back-translation, followed by harmonization and expert review. Two minor modifications were made during cognitive debriefing. Five hundred and nine respondents (54.4% males, aged 18–86 years) participated in the psychometric testing survey. The mean (standard deviation) duration of finishing SF-6Dv2 was 96.9 s (58.5 s). No respondents claimed difficulties on understanding/answering, and no ceiling/floor effect was found in the total summary score. Known-group validity verified that the questionnaire was able to distinguish between subgroups in terms of whether having chronic conditions.

Conclusions

The Simplified Chinese version of SF-6Dv2 is demonstrated to be conceptually equivalent with the original English version, which is also understandable and easy to finish among the Chinese general population.