Date Presented 04/23/21
The purpose of this study is to create an Arabic item bank to assess function of children in Jordan. This poster aims to inform OT practitioners on the instrument development process for creating culturally valid assessments for a given country, culture, or client population. In addition, this poster aims to inform OT practitioners on the importance of using culturally valid assessment tools with their clients.
Primary Author and Speaker: Hiba Hashim
Contributing Authors: Katherine Bevans
PURPOSE: Approximately 6% of Jordanian children who are 5 years of age and older are living with a mild to severe disability (United Nations Children's Fund [UNICEF], 2019). Globally, participation and function of children is assessed using the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory Computer Adaptive Test (PEDI-CAT); a gold standard assessment in pediatric practice which utilizes the contemporary item response theory (Kakooza-Mwesige et al., 2018). However, the assessment was created for children in high-income countries and does not currently have a culturally valid item bank in the Arabic language (Kakooza-Mwesige et al., 2018). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to create an Arabic item bank for the assessment of function and participation of children in Jordan.
DESIGN: This study follows a mixed method design with both qualitative and quantitative components that follow instrument development and validation guidelines as outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) (PROMIS, 2013; WHO, n.d.). Participants included parents of Jordanian children 21 years of age and younger as well as rehabilitation practitioners, including occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech language pathologists, who had at least one year of experience working with Jordanian children. Participants were recruited by word of mouth or on social media.
METHOD: A blended approach of the WHO and PROMIS processes of instrument development and validation was utilized for this study (PROMIS, 2013; WHO, n.d.). The English PEDI-CAT item banks were used as a foundation, for its superior measurement properties and sound conceptual foundations, as opposed to building a new item bank in Arabic. Data was collected using surveys and cognitive interviewing style focus groups. Fifty-seven participants completed surveys. The focus group phase of the study is anticipated to include at least 20 participants. According to the WHO and PROMIS guidelines, items were removed from the item bank if 50% or more of participants deemed the item as culturally inappropriate in the survey phase of the study. In addition, items were marked for discussion in focus groups if 50% or more of participants deemed the item unclear. Thematic analysis will be used to analyze the results of the focus groups.
RESULTS: Approximately 3% and 14% of items were removed from the item bank and marked for discussion in focus groups following the completion of the survey phase, respectively. Themes identified in focus groups will be utilized to adapt items in the Arabic item bank for Jordanian children in order to create a culturally valid pediatric assessment for this client population.
CONCLUSION: This study aims to create a culturally valid item bank for children in Jordan in the Arabic language. This item bank will give rehabilitation practitioners in Jordan access to an assessment of participation and function among children specifically tailored to the country and culture that they are working in. The creation of this item bank will allow each child a fair opportunity to perform as best as they can on the assessment and it will give practitioners an accurate illustration of the child's function within their context. This study is important to occupational therapy practice because it illustrates the cultural validation process and emphasizes the importance of creating culturally valid assessments for varying client populations and cultures.
References
United Nations Children’s Fund. (2019). UNICEF Jordan raises awareness of the rights of children with disabilities to access education in Zarqa. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/jordan/press-releases/unicef-jordan-raises-awareness-rights-children-disabilities-access-education-zarqa
Kakooza-Mwesige, A., Tumwine, J. K., Forssberg, H., & Eliasson, A.-C. (2018). The Uganda version of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). Part I: Cross-cultural adaptation. Child Care Health Development, 44, 552-561. https:// doi.org/10.1111/cch.12563
Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System. (2013). Instrument development and validation. Retrieved from http://www.healthmeasures.net/images/PROMIS/PROMISStandards_Vers2.0_Final.pdf
World Health Organization. (n. d.) Process of translation and adaptation of instruments. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/substance_abuse/research_tools/translation/en/
