TRANSLATION AND CULTURAL ADAPTATION OF THE DIABETES KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONNAIRE – REVISED FOR ASSESSING KNOWLEDGE IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES

Abstract

Background: The Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire (DKQ) is a widely used instrument for assessing knowledge among patients with type 2 diabetes and has been translated into more than 30 languages. In 2023, the questionnaire was updated to the Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire – Revised (DKQ-R), incorporating advances in clinical practice, with its reliability and validity confirmed across diverse populations. However, a standardized Vietnamese version of the DKQ-R is not yet available. Objective: To translate and culturally adapt the DKQ-R into Vietnamese (DKQ-RV). Methods: The translation process followed the guidelines proposed by Beaton et al., comprising five stages: (1) forward translation; (2) synthesis of the translations; (3) back-translation; (4) expert committee review; and (5) pilot testing. Results: The Vietnamese version (DKQ-RV) consists of 22 items covering key domains of diabetes knowledge. Evaluation by the expert committee demonstrated a high level of semantic, idiomatic, Empirical and conceptual equivalence (mean scores ranging from 0.99 to 1.00). In the pilot study, all items achieved high clarity scores (>9/10). Minor modifications were made to enhance comprehensibility, including unit conversion (from mg/dL to mmol/L) and the addition of explanations for terms such as HbA1c, trans fat, and whole-grain bread. Conclusion: The DKQ-RV demonstrated a high degree of equivalence with the original version and was perceived by patients with type 2 diabetes as clear, comprehensible, easy to complete, and free of ambiguity.