Ann Geriatr Med Res.  2020 Jun;24(2):115-124. 10.4235/agmr.20.0005.

Translation and Validation of the Malay Version of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Questionnaire for Older Adults in Malaysia

• Harith S
• Tan SL

• KMID: 2503337
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4235/agmr.20.0005

Abstract

Background
This study aimed to translate and validate the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) questionnaire among older adult patients in Malaysia in the Malay language.
Methods
The questionnaire contained items on the socio-demographic characteristics, medical condition, quality of life (QOL), nutritional status, functional capacity, and depression status. The forward and backward translation processes of the original English language version of the questionnaire were undertaken by three independent linguistic translators, while its content was validated by an expert team consisting of seven geriatricians, physicians, dietitian, and lecturers. The Malay version of the questionnaire was tested for face validity in 10 older adult patients over 65 years of age admitted to the medical wards in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Malaysia. The internal consistency reliability and construct validity were evaluated among 166 older adult patients (mean age, 71.0 years; 73.5% male) at the Medical Outpatients Department and medical wards of Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah (HSNZ), Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. The questionnaire was administered through face-to-face interviews with the patients. Minor amendments were made after the content and face validity tests.
Results
The internal consistency reliability was good, as the Cronbach’s alpha for most of the scales surpassed 0.70, ranging from 0.70 to 0.98, with only one exception (Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form, Cronbach’s alpha=0.62). The factor loadings for all scales were satisfactory (>0.40), ranging from 0.45 to 0.90.
Conclusion
The Malay-version CGA showed evidence of satisfactory internal consistency reliability and construct validity in Malaysian geriatric patients. Therefore, it is recommended to be used for the assessment of the QOL, nutritional, functional, and depression status in this population.

Keyword

Comprehensive geriatric assessment; Older adult; Malay version; Translation; Validation