Scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia (SARA): translation and cultural adaptation to German-speaking areas

Abstract

The scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia (SARA) is a feasible assessment for the classification and evaluation of therapeutic interventions. In order to provide access to the SARA in German, the aim of this work was to translate the SARA into German and to adapt it according to international guidelines for German-speaking countries. The process involved six steps. The comprehensibility of the scale was assessed using interviews with potential users. A total of nine physiotherapists and six physicians working in various clinical settings were interviewed, seven of them worked in Germany and four each in Austria and Switzerland. The interviews led to a refined version of the translation. The comprehensibility testing revealed no country-specific differences. A German version of the SARA authorized by the co-author of the original publication, is now available. The results provide methodological insights into the translation process of observation-based standardized assessments.