Analysis of Equivalence and Reliability of Korean Translated Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefits

Abstract

For using the translated questionnaires, an appropriate translation should be accomplished for establishing the equivalence. The equivalence is divided into two categories, formal equivalence regarding words and grammar and dynamic equivalence meaning the naturalness of the context with the consideration of the cultural and emotional characteristics of the region. The purpose of this study was to verify formal and dynamic equivalences and statistical reliability of the widely used translated questionnaire in Korea, abbreviated profile of hearing aid benefits (APHAB). The identification of equivalence was conducted in formal and dynamic categories and the statistical verification was performed for 6 translated APHAB which are currently utilized in Korea. None of 6 translated APHAB had formal and dynamic equivalences for all 24 items when the score ‘2’ was given to the completed equivalence of each item. Two translated APHAB showed ‘11’ as the best score and one of them showed ‘0’ for the formal equivalence identification. For the dynamic equivalence, the two translated APHAB scored ‘20’ as the best score. The one scored ‘0’ for the formal equivalence showed ‘0’ also in the dynamic equivalence. And only two translated APHAB presented the statistical validation using Cronbach’s alpha and factor analysis. It was confirmed that any of 6 translated APHAB in Korea could not reproduce the original contents with the appropriate equivalence and statistical validation. As the translated version was found to have a limitation in delivering the original contents due to language, emotional and cultural differences, a Korean questionnaire should be developed.