Cultural Adaptation and Content Validity of the Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators Tool (SPICT-CHN TM ): A Cognitive Interview Study

Abstract

Objectives

To convert the Supportive and Palliative Care Indicator Tool (SPICT^TM) into Chinese, verify its content validity, and adjust it culturally using cognitive interviewing.

Methods

This study translated, culturally adapted, and validated the SPICT^TM based on TRAPD model (Translation, Review, Adjudication, Pretesting, and Documentation) in a Chinese healthcare context. Three rounds of interviews were conducted with 27 health care providers using cognitive interviews between July 2024 and October 2024.

Results

The Chinese version of SPICT^TM demonstrated good comprehensiveness and understandability. It has been culturally and content-wise adapted through cognitive interviews, and most of the comprehension-related issues were effectively addressed through the addition of explanatory words; however, some of the interviewers’ recommendations that needed to be quantified the indexes were not adopted.

Conclusions

Cognitive interviews, guided by person-centered principles, can identify areas of the original scale that require modification. Although the application of the SPICT^TM is still in its early stages in China, it has laid a foundation for the supportive and palliative care practice.