Abstract
Study design
An observational study design.
Objective
To translate the Impact on Participation and Autonomy Questionnaire (IPAQ) into the Hindi language and to assess the test-retest reliability of the supplemental data in the Indian spinal cord injury (SCI) population.
Setting
Delhi.
Methods
The English version of the IPAQ was translated into the Hindi language following the standardized Beaton guidelines for cross-cultural adaptation of self-reports. Reliability and validity were assessed in 80 subjects with SCI. Content validity was estimated using quantitative and qualitative methods. Internal consistency reliability was assessed in 20 participants. For test-retest reliability, 30 participants completed the IPAQ-H twice, one week apart. Subjects (N = 80) who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study after obtaining their informed consent.
Results
The IPAQ was translated into the Hindi language using the six-step Beaton guidelines, which were approved by the translators, expert panel members, subjects with SCI, and developers of the original English version of the IPAQ. Content validity estimation showed that all the items in the questionnaire were retained. The IPAQ-H has excellent internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alpha −0.942) and excellent test-retest reliability (ICC single measure-0.568 and mean measure-0.929.
Conclusion
The supplemental data is a methodological step in translating the IPAQ into Hindi for a Hindi-literate population with high test-retest reliability. Healthcare practitioners can use the supplemental data as a valuable tool to gain clinical insights into the efficacy of IPA in the Indian Hindi-speaking population with SCI.
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Data availability
The datasets generated and/or analyzed in the current study are available from the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre at the Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences (ISIC-IRS).
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We would like to thank all participants for their involvement and feedback in the study.
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Kumari R has contributed in conducting the search of study, making of structured Abstract and covering letter, writing the introduction, designed the research methodology, interpreting results, writing discussion and conclusion part and updating reference list and making of Figures. Joshi R has contributed in making of Title page, search of study, review and acquired the data, interptreting results and writing some part of discussion, making tables and listing of references. Vijay P has designed the work, divided the work equally, guided throughout the duration of research work and manuscript submission, revised the manuscript, done the coprrections, approved the final version. All authors contributed equally to this study.
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This study was approved by Institutional Ethics Committee (Ref:ISIC/RP/2019/037). We confirmed that all applicable institutional and government regulations on the ethical handling of human subjects were followed during the course of this research. All procedures were in accordance with the ethical standards of the relevant committee on human experimentation (at institutional and national levels) and the 1975 Declaration of Helsinki, as amended in 2008.
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Kumari, R., Joshi, R. & Vijay, P. Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the “impact on participation and autonomy” (IPA) questionnaire in Indian population with spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord Ser Cases 11, 2 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-025-00697-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-025-00697-y


