Swahili translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the start back screening tool

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to translate and culturally adapt the STarT Back Screening Tool into Swahili language.
Design: Translation and cultural adaptation of a questionnaire.
Setting: Physiotherapy outpatient clinics in Muhimbili National hospital and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology hospital in Tanzania and Kenya respectively.
Subjects: Adults patients presenting with Low back pain.
Results: Minor semantic alterations were done in question 5, 6 and 7 during the expert committee review. Pre-testing of the tool and cognitive interview indicated that all questions were well understood.
Conclusion: The Swahili version of the STarT Back Screening Tool, has shown to be comprehensible and well adapted to the Swahili speaking population. Future studies should investigate its psychometric properties.