Portuguese cultural adaptation and validation of the European Health Literacy Survey (HLS-EU) for children aged 9 to 10 (HLS-EU-PTc)

Abstract

Abstract Introduction To measure Health literacy (HL) as proposed in the context of the European Health Literacy Survey/questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q), the Health Literacy for Children and Adolescents (HLCA) Consortium (GE) adapted it for children. A trans-cultural adaptation and validation to Portuguese (HLS-EU-PTc), will supply policy makers, experts and health professionals with information that can promote healthier communities while fighting health disparities. Methods After permission was granted from the HLCA Consortium the TRAPD model was used (eg parallel translation, focus groups, two back translations). An assessment and pretesting of HLS-EU-PTc was done with 16 children for cognitive testing. A qualitative explanatory (n = 16) and quantitative, cross-sectional study (n = 82), age mean 13, SD 0.96, from Portugal (mainland) was implemented for proceed with the validation process. A variety of measures were obtained like internal consistency and mean scores. Results Preliminary results for evaluation of the psychometric properties of the HLS-EU-PTc show satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient 0.87). In a scale from 1 (very difficult) to 4 (very easy) for indicators of the HLS-EU-PTc, we have a mean of 3.25 and a SD of .478. Conclusions This is the first study to examine the feasibility of a Portuguese version (HLS-EU-PTc) of the HLS-EU-Q adapted for children and it indicates high internal consistency and level of self-reported HL. The usefulness of the HLS-EU-PTc instrument can be further discussed while planning public health policy strategies from the HL standpoint. The validated HLS-EU-PTc version of the HLS-EU-Qc survey, with the user’s manual can be accessed at www.literacia-saude.info.