Translating Surveys and Other Materials

All CAHPS surveys are available in Spanish, as are some of the CAHPS supplemental items. These Spanish translations were produced by the CAHPS research team, which follows a standard process designed to ensure the reliability and validity of the survey data. This process includes two kinds of testing:

• Cognitive testing with a small group of representatives of the target population, followed by revisions and additional testing as needed to address any areas of misunderstanding, confusion, or concern.
• Psychometric analysis to gauge the reliability, validity, and equivalence of the translated instrument in measuring the health needs of various subgroups.

Data from a translated survey can be very useful for:

• Assessing the experiences of patients and health plan enrollees who require a non-English survey instrument.
• Developing targeted strategies for improving patient experience.

If you need a CAHPS survey in a language that is not available from AHRQ, you may produce your own translation. AHRQ does not review independently translated surveys. In addition, AHRQ’s CAHPS Databases do not accept data from independently translated instruments.

Data from an independently translated instrument you produce may not be appropriate for high-stakes purposes, such as public reporting and pay-for-performance programs. If you require a survey for participation in a program, please contact the sponsor of that program for translated versions.

Guidelines for Translating CAHPS Surveys

If you are translating a CAHPS survey, please review the following guidelines and recommendations:

• Translating CAHPS Surveys (PDF, 246 KB).

This document lays out a step-by-step process for producing a translated version of a survey using two simultaneous translators and a translation reviewer. Following these steps will help to make sure the translation is both linguistically relevant and culturally appropriate.

• Linguistic relevance. The translated survey must accurately reflect the content and intent of the English questionnaire. In other words, the meaning of the translated questions should be the same as that of the English questions.
• Cultural appropriateness. The translation must also make sense from a cultural perspective. Direct the translators to produce colloquial questions and instructions that survey respondents can easily understand and use.

Appendices include guidelines for selecting a translation team and a sample master table for managing the review of the translations.

The CAHPS grantees developed these guidelines for the translation and cultural adaptation of CAHPS surveys to support users in the U.S. and internationally. The guidelines have been reviewed and tested by various government agencies and private organizations (such as health plans).

Learn More

Review articles about translating surveys in the CAHPS bibliography.

Pan Y, de la Puente M. Census Bureau Guideline for the Translation of Data Collection Instruments and Supporting Materials: Documentation on how the Guideline Was Developed.  Washington, D.C.: U.S. Census Bureau Statistical Research Division; 2005 (August 24). Available at https://www.census.gov/srd/papers/pdf/rsm2005-06.pdf. Accessed 12/8/2016.