A bridge between cultures: A report on the process of translating the EQ-5D instrument into Shona

Abstract

There is an increasing need in medical research for outcome measures that are both locally applicable and internationally recognised. The European Quality of Life 5-dimensions (EQ-5D) has been found to be a valid and reliable instrument for describing health related quality of life in Western societies. The paper describes the process of translating the EQ-5D into Shona, the language spoken by the majority of Zimbabweans. The EuroQoL group has developed a protocol for translation that was followed rigorously. Issues such as conceptualisation of health concepts cross-culturally, semantic equivalence (the transfer of meaning across languages) and specific idiomatic expressions are discussed. It is concluded that if the translation process is not adequately addressed, researchers may be guilty of simply imposing notions of health and quality of life across cultures. Consequently, the results will not provide meaningful insights into the cultures under study.

Keywords

• Translation
• Shona
• quality of life
• culture