Translation and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Six-Item Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms Scale Questionnaire into Persian.

Background

Numerous medical questionnaires exist to assess the quality of life in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). However, most of these instruments are available exclusively in English. Therefore, we decided to translate and culturally adapt the Six-Item CTS Symptoms Scale (CTS-6 SS) into Persian. This questionnaire was selected because it offers a subjective evaluation with a concise set of questions.

Methods

The translation followed the World Health Organization's four-step protocol, including forward and backward translation, expert panel review and pre-testing. The cultural adaptation involved a multidisciplinary team ensuring relevance and comprehensibility for Iranian patients. The questionnaire's validity and reliability were assessed. The questionnaire was revised and then administered to 60 randomly selected patients diagnosed with CTS.

Results

The translated CTS-6 demonstrated high comprehension and completion rates. The adaptation process addressed cultural nuances and ensured the scale's effectiveness in the Iranian context. Cronbach's α was computed at 0.903 to evaluate internal consistency. The test-retest data for the CTS-6 showed a normal distribution.

Conclusions

The Persian version of the CTS-6 is a reliable and efficient tool for assessing CTS symptoms, facilitating accurate diagnosis and treatment in Persian-speaking populations. The brevity and clarity of the questionnaire enhance patient compliance and the reliability of collected data. Level of Evidence: Level IV (Diagnostic).