Brazilian Portuguese translation and cross-cultural adaptation of Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Screen (ECAS)

Abstract

Abstract: The translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the screening test Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral ALS Screen (ECAS) for the Portuguese language of Brazil was carried out in this article. The adaptations were developed based on authors' guidelines and specific literature: translation; synthesis; back-translation and cross-cultural adaptation (technical review and semantic equivalence). The tests were adapted with the aid of a pilot group of 46 healthy individuals, mean age 52.6 ± 13.88 years and 13.8 ± 5.10 years of studies, 26 females and 20 males, randomly recruited among the caregivers of the patients of the Hospital das Clínicas of the Federal University of Goiás, Brazil. After translation of all fifteen ECAS subtests, nine were adapted and six not gone through cross-cultural adaptation. In the Language-Naming subtest the fox figure (13.04% of errors) was replaced by the image of the alligator; 5 words (41.66%) of the Language-Spelling subtest were replaced. In the Executive-Alternation subtest, 11-K or 11-L was accepted as a response, provided the subsequent sequence was correct. A Verbal Fluency Index (IFV) table was established, with data from the pilot group, which will be the reference for the Brazilian version. The three subtests for memory evaluation (Immediate Recall, Delayed Recall and Delayed Recognition) are based on a story that has been adapted to Brazilian culture. The protocol has been translated and adapted to Brazilian Portuguese and has undergone processes of content, verbal comprehension and semantic equivalence, being called Edimburgo - Rastreio Cognitivo-Comportamental em ELA (ECAS-BR). It is necessary to continue this study for external validity, equivalence of measurement and reproducibility.