Translation, Cross-Culture Adaptation and Measurement Properties of the Simplified Chinese Version of the Osteoarthritis Knowledge Scale.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to culturally adapt the Osteoarthritis Knowledge Scale (OAKS) into a simplified Chinese version and to evaluate its measurement properties among Chinese-speaking populations.

METHODS

The OAKS scale was translated and cross-culturally adapted following COSMIN guidelines. A total of 368 participants were recruited, including individuals with knee or hip osteoarthritis (OA), healthcare professionals, and individuals without OA. The study evaluated the scale's internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and factor structure using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA).

RESULTS

The translated OAKS scale demonstrated acceptable levels of reliability across different groups. Cronbach's alpha for the KOAKS was 0.70 overall, with subgroup values ranging from 0.70 to 0.71. For the HOAKS, Cronbach's alpha was 0.77 overall, with subgroup values ranging from 0.63 to 0.72. Test-retest reliability showed high Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) values for both scales (KOAKS: ICC = 0.960; HOAKS: ICC = 0.982). EFA revealed that the overall OAKS explained a substantial portion of the variance (60.51%), with KOAKS accounting for 59.35% and HOAKS accounting for 54.68% of the variance.

CONCLUSION

The simplified Chinese version of the OAKS is a reliable tool for assessing OA knowledge among Chinese-speaking patients, healthcare professionals, and the general public. The findings highlight the necessity for continuous improvement and adaptation of educational interventions to address specific knowledge gaps within the Chinese context.