Cross-cultural adaptation of an environmental health measurement instrument: Brazilian version of the health-care waste management • rapid assessment tool.
Periodic assessment is one of the recommendations for improving health-care waste management worldwide. This study aimed at translating and adapting the Health-Care Waste Management - Rapid Assessment Tool (HCWM-RAT), proposed by the World Health Organization, to a Brazilian Portuguese version, and resolving its cultural and legal issues. The work focused on the evaluation of the concepts, items and semantic equivalence between the original tool and the Brazilian Portuguese version.



A cross-cultural adaptation methodology was used, including: initial translation to Brazilian Portuguese; back translation to English; syntheses of these translation versions; formation of an expert committee to achieve consensus about the preliminary version; and evaluation of the target audience's comprehension.



Both the translated and the original versions' concepts, items and semantic equivalence are presented. The constructs in the original instrument were considered relevant and applicable to the Brazilian context. The Brazilian version of the tool has the potential to generate indicators, develop official database, feedback and subsidize political decisions at many geographical and organizational levels strengthening the Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) mechanism. Moreover, the cross-cultural translation expands the usefulness of the instrument to Portuguese-speaking countries in developing regions.



The translated and original versions presented concept, item and semantic equivalence and can be applied to Brazil.
Sergio Arouca National School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, ENSP/FIOCRUZ, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões 1480, Prédio Primeiro de Maio. Manguinhos, CEP 21041-210., Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. ensilva@ensp.fiocruz.br.
Eliana Napoleão
EN
Cozendey-Silva
Municipal Health Foundation of Niteroi, VIPAHE/FMS, Av Ernani do Amaral Peixoto, 171, Centro-CEP 24020-071., Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
Cintia Ribeiro
CR
da Silva
Sergio Arouca National School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, ENSP/FIOCRUZ, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões 1480, Prédio Primeiro de Maio. Manguinhos, CEP 21041-210., Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Ariane Leites
AL
Larentis
Network of Environment and Sustainable Development (REMADS-UFF), University Federal Fluminense, Av. Gal. Milton Tavares de Souza, s/n. Praia Vermelha, CEP 24210-346., Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
Julio Cesar
JC
Wasserman
Sergio Arouca National School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, ENSP/FIOCRUZ, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões 1480, Prédio Primeiro de Maio. Manguinhos, CEP 21041-210., Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Brani
B
Rozemberg
Sergio Arouca National School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, ENSP/FIOCRUZ, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões 1480, Prédio Primeiro de Maio. Manguinhos, CEP 21041-210., Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Liliane Reis
LR
Teixeira
D001938:Brazil; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D054521:Cultural Competency; D004782:Environmental Health / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008506:Medical Waste; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D012660:Semantics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014177:Translations; D018505:Waste Management
D008506:Medical Waste
Cross-cultural comparison; Environmental health; Health care evaluation; Medical waste; Public policies; Rapid evaluation; Waste management