Cross‐Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Simplified Chinese Version of the Lower Extremity Functional Scale
Chuanxin Zhang, Yaqun Liu, Shuai Yuan, Tianbo Yang, Yuan Gao, Chao Zhu, Zheru Ding
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to cross-culturally adapt and validate the Simplified Chinese version of the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (SC-LEFS). METHODS: The original English version of the Lower Extremity Functional Scale was translated and cross-culturally adapted into Simplified Chinese according to international guidelines. The SC-LEFS and 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey were administered to 213 patients with lower extremity musculoskeletal disorders. Psychometric properties including internal consistency, test-retest reliability, content validity, and construct validity were tested. RESULTS: = 0.97) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.97). Corrected item-total correlations for every item ranged from 0.67 to 0.89. And the item-level content validity index (I-CVI) for each item ranged from 0.78 to 1.00. Principal component analysis revealed a one-factor structure. Nine of ten prior hypotheses were confirmed, which further supports good construct validity within the SC-LEFS. CONCLUSION: The SC-LEFS has high internal consistency, good test-retest reliability and content validity, convergent construct validity, and a one-factor structure. Thus, it could be regarded as a reliable and valid tool to assess activity limitations in Chinese patients with lower extremity musculoskeletal disorders.