GI Symptom Tracker: Dutch translation
The GI Symptom Tracker, a standardized instrument, has been developed and validated for ages > 12 years through adulthood, demonstrating good reliability and validity.1 The four subscales are as follows: Eating Challenges (4 items), Stools (8 items), Adherence Challenges (5 items), and Abdominal Symptoms (7 items). Scores are standardized on a 0-to-100 scale with higher scores indicating more symptoms/problems over the recall period, which was one week. Symptoms are rated using a 4-point scale ranging from 1 (never/not at all)to 4 (almost always/a great deal).
As a next step, two native Dutch speakers who also speak English, experts in CF (psychologist and dietician) translated the GI Symptom Tracker from English into Dutch.21
Discrepancies were resolved to produce the “consensus forward” Dutch version, focusing on cultural equivalence and medical terms used by pwCF. The consensus measure was back-translated into English by 2 Dutch speakers with strong English skills, followed by a discussion to ensure the instructions, items, and rating scales conveyed the original meaning (“harmonization”). It was administered to 10 pwCF (aged 14-47) to perform cognitive testing to assess clarity of items and comprehensiveness.
The GI Symptom Tracker underwent all steps recommended by international
Guidelines, viz. FDA Guidance on Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (2009). Participants reported that the GI Symptom tracker was brief (average of 4 minutes, ranging from 2-8 minutes), with most items perceived as relevant and providing valuable insights into GI symptoms. They recommended adding options ‘variable’ and ‘Panzytrat’ to the first question asking for dose of enzymes per meal/snack, which have now been added to the Dutch version.21
The Dutch GI Symptom Tracker, ‘Signaleringslijst maagdarm-symptomen voor mensen met CF’ is now ready for clinical and research purposes, see supplement X.21
This is the first standardized measure of GI symptoms, enzyme and nutrition
adherence for Dutch pwCF. It provides a systematic assessment to increase effective
treatment.