title: A framework for understanding modifications to measures for diverse populations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Research on health disparities and determinants of health disparities among ethnic minorities and vulnerable older populations necessitates use of self-report measures. Most established instruments were developed on mainstream populations and may need adaptation for research with diverse populations. Although information is increasingly available on various problems using these measures in diverse groups, there is little guidance on how to modify the measures. A framework of issues to consider when modifying measures for diverse populations is presented.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors describe reasons for considering modifications, the types of information that can be used as a basis for making modifications, and the types of modifications researchers have made. Recommendations are made to test modified measures to assure their appropriateness, and suggestions are provided on reporting modifications in publications using the measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The issues open a dialogue about what appropriate guidelines would be for researchers adapting measures in studies of ethnically diverse populations.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health & Aging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA. anita.stewart@ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Anita L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Angela D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Thrasher
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: Judy A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Shea
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000208:ethnology*; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods*; D005006:Ethnicity; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008913:Minority Groups; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D035862:Vulnerable Populations