title: Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of Singapore Malay and Tamil versions of the EQ-5D.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aims of this study were to cross-culturally adapt and evaluate the validity of the Singaporean Malay and Tamil versions of the EQ-5D.
  
  
  METHODS
  The EQ- 5D was cross-culturally adapted and translated using an iterative process following standard guidelines. Consenting adult Malay- and Tamil-speaking subjects at a primary care facility in Singapore were interviewed using a questionnaire (including the EQ-5D, a single item assessing global health, the SF-8 and sociodemographic questions) in their respective language versions. Known-groups and convergent construct validity of the EQ-5D was investigated by testing 30 a priori hypotheses per language at attribute and overall levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete data were obtained for 94 Malay and 78 Indian patients (median age, 54 years and 51 years, respectively). At the attribute level, all 16 hypotheses were fulfilled with several reaching statistical significance (Malay: 4; Tamil: 5). At the overall level, 42 of 44 hypotheses related to the EQ-5D/ EQ-VAS were fulfilled (Malay: 22; Tamil: 20), with 21 reaching statistical significance (Malay: 9; Tamil: 12).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study among primary care patients, the Singapore Malay and Tamil EQ-5D demonstrated satisfactory known-groups and convergent validity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Hwee-Lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Wee
authors.forename: Wai-Chiong
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Loke
authors.forename: Shu-Chuen
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kok-Yong
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: Yin-Bun
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Machin
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thumboo
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D007802:Language; D008296:Malaysia / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012846:Singapore; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*