Cognitive testing of the Colon Cancer Screening Behaviours Survey with South Asian immigrants in Canada

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to cognitively test the Urdu and English language versions of a survey to assess colon cancer screening behaviours among South Asian immigrants in Canada. METHODS: The Colon Cancer Screening Behaviours Survey was cross-culturally translated and adapted into the Urdu language followed by cognitive interviews using an evidence-informed cross-cultural cognitive interview framework. The cognitive interviews were conducted in English and Urdu in three rounds; a preliminary round, round one, and round two. Two bilingual cognitive interviewers administered interviews in person with South Asian immigrants in Hamilton, Ontario. Scripted verbal and emergent probe techniques were used concurrently with survey item administration. RESULTS: A total of 30 South Asian immigrant participants, 12 English speaking and 18 Urdu speaking completed a cognitive interview. These groups were similar in age, gender, and years of residence in Canada. General design, culture, gender, and translation issues were identified. Revisions were made to improve the survey and the interview protocol was modified for future data collection. CONCLUSIONS: The cross-cultural cognitive interview framework led to a systematic and rigorous process of pre-testing and revising the Colon Cancer Screening Behaviours Survey, which may be used to gain insights on beliefs, benefits, facilitators and barriers to colon cancer screening among South Asian immigrants. The study methods and experience may also inform the cross-cultural translation and adaptation and cognitive testing of other survey tools. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s41687-017-0007-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.