Japanese translation and linguistic validation of the Prosthetic Limb Users Survey of Mobility (PLUS-M).
Geoffrey S Balkman, Soshi Samejima, Kazuki Fujimoto and 1 others
PMID 34693940WHAT IT FOUND
The Japanese PLUS-M mobility survey was adapted for cultural fit.
Items like walking in a church were changed to theaters, and vague distances were clarified. This version is ready for use, but further testing is needed to confirm it accurately measures mobility in Japanese patients.
Key findings
01Cultural adaptations were made to the survey items, such as replacing 'church' with 'theater' because places of worship in Japan rarely have pews.
02Participants found some items unclear due to vague descriptions of distance or unfamiliar scenarios, leading to revisions for better comprehension.
03The translated items met readability standards, with all items at or below an eighth-grade reading level.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
All participants were recruited from a single clinic in one region of Japan, so the translation may not account for regional dialects or cultural differences elsewhere in the country. The study only assessed linguistic validity; it did not test whether the Japanese version reliably measures mobility or how it compares to other outcomes. The short forms use the same items as the English version, which may not be the most precise choice for Japanese users.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this translated survey is clinically validated for use in Japan. The study only confirmed that the language was clear and culturally appropriate, not that the scores accurately reflect mobility or predict patient outcomes.