Danish translation and linguistic validation of the Melanoma Concerns Questionnaire.

INTRODUCTION

Increased focus on monitoring health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in melanoma patients has highlighted the need for validated instruments such as patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Rather than developing new measures, it is generally recommended to translate and linguistically validate a suitable existing PROM.

METHODS

The Melanoma Concerns Questionnaire (MCQ-28) was adapted from English to Danish following the guidelines by the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR). A forward-and-backwards translation was conducted, followed by cognitive debriefing interviews based on the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN), focusing on comprehensiveness, comprehensibility and relevance.

RESULTS

The Danish MCQ-28 was tested on 21 patients, including seven in each risk group. Overall responses were positive, though several patients - especially those at a low risk or further in follow-up process - struggled with the timeframe of certain items. The interviews also revealed that some items were interpreted differently depending on individual patient perspectives.

CONCLUSIONS

By following the ISPOR guideline, a culturally relevant, linguistically validated Danish version of the MCQ-28 was developed. It is a candidate for implementation in Danish melanoma follow-up and for use in international HRQoL research on melanoma patients; however, psychometric validation in a Danish context is necessary.

FUNDING: The Herlev and Gentofte Hospital Research Fund.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not relevant.