The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer prostate-specific quality of life module (PR-25) in Hindi and Marathi: Translation and pilot testing process

Background: The side effects of various treatments for prostate cancer have a measurable impact on the general as well as disease-related quality of life, which is of pivotal concern as an outcome measure.
Aim: Translation and pilot testing of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) prostate cancer-specific module (PR-25) into Hindi and Marathi.
Materials and Methods: The translation procedure described by the EORTC was adopted; this comprised two forward translations of the original English questionnaire into Hindi and Marathi each with formation of first intermediary questionnaires and two back translations of the first intermediary questionnaires into English. The first intermediary questionnaires were adapted as the second intermediary questionnaires and pilot tested in ten prostate cancer patients as no modifications were suggested by the back translators.
Results: Each patient, after completing the questionnaire, was interviewed by the local project coordinator who questioned them about each item in the second intermediary questionnaire. The patients were asked whether there was any difficulty in answering, confusion while answering, or difficulty in understanding the questions; whether the questions were upsetting; and if the patients themselves would have framed the question in a different way. Based on the suggestions or interpretations of this pilot testing, the necessary changes were incorporated and the final Hindi and Marathi questionnaires were formed.
Conclusion: Both the translations were submitted to the EORTC for review and have been subsequently approved for clinical studies.

Keywords
Backward translation, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-PR25, forward translation, pilot testing