Saylor Anna K, Appleton Sarah, Rees Catrin, Tracey Siobhan, Mendelovits Tom, Stagge Faith, Cohen Matthew L, Lanzi Alyssa M
Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, University of Delaware; Newark, DE, USA.
Delaware Center for Cognitive Aging Research, University of Delaware; Newark, DE, USA.
Perspect ASHA Spec Interest Groups. 2024 Jun;9(3):868-876. doi: 10.1044/2024_persp-23-00261. Epub 2024 Jun 3.
The Functional External Memory Aid Tool (FEMAT) is a performance-based measure of applied cognitive-linguistic abilities and attempted use of compensatory aids and strategies (e.g., using a calendar to recall an appointment) through completion of simulated everyday living tasks. The FEMAT was originally developed in the United States (US) and a need arose from clinicians to adapt the FEMAT for use in other countries. The aim of this study is to describe the cultural adaptation process that resulted in the United Kingdom (UK) and Australian (AU) versions of the FEMAT, via international clinical-research partnerships.
The FEMAT was adapted into UK and AU cultures using established guidelines for cultural and linguistic adaptation. The adaptation was completed by researchers and clinicians from the US, UK, and AU and we followed a six-step process: (1) preparation, (2) forward translation, (3) back translation, (4) committee review, (5) field testing, and (6) finalization.
The FEMAT items and materials were successfully adapted from the source culture (i.e., English-US) to the target cultures (i.e., English-UK, English-AU). Through the adaptation process, the FEMAT items were determined to be conceptually appropriate for each culture and minimal modifications were made to the FEMAT materials (e.g., voicemail recordings recorded in target dialect). The finalized FEMAT-English-UK and the FEMAT-English-AU versions are available for free on the FEMAT website.
Through successful international clinical-research collaborations, the FEMAT was successfully adapted for use in other English-speaking cultures. This work provides guidance to streamline future FEMAT cultural adaptations.
功能性外部记忆辅助工具（FEMAT）是一种基于表现的应用认知语言能力测量工具，通过完成模拟的日常生活任务来尝试使用补偿辅助工具和策略（例如，使用日历来回忆预约）。FEMAT最初是在美国开发的，临床医生有需求将其改编以用于其他国家。本研究的目的是描述通过国际临床研究合作，使FEMAT在英国（UK）和澳大利亚（AU）版本得以实现的文化适应过程。
使用既定的文化和语言适应指南将FEMAT改编为英国和澳大利亚文化版本。改编工作由来自美国、英国和澳大利亚的研究人员和临床医生完成，我们遵循了六个步骤：（1）准备，（2）正向翻译，（3）反向翻译，（4）委员会审查，（5）现场测试，（6）定稿。
FEMAT的项目和材料成功地从源文化（即美国英语）改编为目标文化（即英国英语、澳大利亚英语）。通过改编过程，确定FEMAT项目在概念上适用于每种文化，并且对FEMAT材料进行了最小程度的修改（例如，用目标方言录制语音邮件记录）。最终确定的FEMAT-英国英语版和FEMAT-澳大利亚英语版可在FEMAT网站上免费获取。
通过成功的国际临床研究合作，FEMAT成功改编以用于其他英语文化。这项工作为简化未来FEMAT的文化适应提供了指导。
