Sammanfattning
Background: The incidence of cancer among older adults is rapidly increasing, and as a result of treatment cancer patients may be subject to cognitive changes. Many cancer survivors experience reduced attention and concentration, as well as poorer memory. The Attentional Function Index (AFI) is an instrument developed in the USA to assess cognitive processes.
Purpose: To describe the translation and pilot testing of the Norwegian version of AFI.
Method: Three researchers with knowledge of psychology, nursing and cancer, one psychologist with specialist knowledge of cognitive instruments, and a user representative, constituted the expert group in translation and cultural adaptation of the instrument. An accredited translator participated actively in the work. In the pilot testing of the Norwegian version persons ³ 60 years were recruited using “snowball sampling”. A total of 114 persons between 60–90 years were recruited for the testing, and twelve of these were specifically asked to comment on the instrument.
Results: The expert group members provided feedback based on their competence. The user representative wanted a simple and understandable, non-offensive language, and the translator provided linguistic comments. Fifteen persons commented particularly on question 11 “Keeping yourself from saying or doing things you did not want to say or do”.
Conclusion: The inclusion of users and a translator in the translation process can improve the validation. We recommend that the process be made available for future users of translated instruments.