title: Development of a conceptually equivalent Chinese-language translation of the US Household Food Security Survey Module for Chinese immigrants to the USA.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a conceptually equivalent Chinese-language translation of the eighteen-item US Household Food Security Survey Module.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the current qualitative study, we (i) highlight methodological challenges which arise in developing survey instruments that will be used to make comparisons across language groups and (ii) describe the development of a Chinese-language translation of the US Household Food Security Survey Module, called the San Francisco Chinese Food Security Module.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community sites in San Francisco, CA, USA.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted cognitive interviews with twenty-two community members recruited from community sites hosting food pantries and with five professionals recruited from clinical settings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Development of conceptually equivalent surveys can be difficult. We highlight challenges related to dialect, education, literacy (e.g. preferences for more or less formal phrasing), English words and phrases for which there is no Chinese language equivalent (e.g. 'balanced meals' and 'eat less than you felt you should') and response formats. We selected final translations to maximize: (i) consistency of the Chinese translation with the intent of the English version; (ii) clarity; and (iii) similarities in understanding across dialects and literacy levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Survey translation is essential for conducting research in many communities. The challenges encountered illustrate how literal translations can affect the conceptual equivalence of survey items across languages. Cognitive interview methods should be routinely used for survey translation when such non-equivalence is suspected, such as in surveys addressing highly culturally bound behaviours such as diet and eating behaviours. Literally translated surveys lacking conceptual equivalence may magnify or obscure important health inequalities.
authors.affiliation: 1Center for Vulnerable Populations at San Francisco General Hospital;Division of General Internal Medicine,University of California San Francisco,San Francisco,CA 94143,USA.
authors.forename: Christine Ml
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kwan
authors.affiliation: 2Division of General Internal Medicine,University of California San Francisco,San Francisco,CA,USA.
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Napoles
authors.affiliation: 1Center for Vulnerable Populations at San Francisco General Hospital;Division of General Internal Medicine,University of California San Francisco,San Francisco,CA 94143,USA.
authors.forename: Jeyling
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: 1Center for Vulnerable Populations at San Francisco General Hospital;Division of General Internal Medicine,University of California San Francisco,San Francisco,CA 94143,USA.
authors.forename: Hilary K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Seligman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001213:Asian; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D054521:Cultural Competency; D004032:Diet / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D004034:Diet Surveys; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012495:San Francisco; D014177:Translations; D014481:United States; D016885:United States Department of Agriculture; D014504:Urban Health / Q000208:ethnology
keywords: Chinese; Food insecurity; Measurement; Survey