Translation to German (Austrian) and qualitative linguistic validation of the Godin-Shephard Leisure‐Time Physical Activity Questionnaire

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(244 of max. 250 words) Purpose Translation to German and qualitative linguistic validation of the Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire (GSLTPAQ), a self-reported physical activity questionnaire commonly used in cancer research. Methods We applied state-of-the-art methodology for translating patient-reported outcome measures, including forward and back-translation, review by a German native-speaker clinician, and review by a German linguist. The new translation of the GSLTPAQ then underwent qualitative linguistic validation by cognitive debriefing in interviews with 15 adults (7 women, 8 men, age range 24 to 88 years) with varied medical history. All interviewees were residents in Austria and native or proficient German-speakers. The sample represented all physical activity levels from “insufficiently active” to “active”. Results During the translation process, some wording was adapted to the German-speaking context. For example, “Bewegung” (movement) was included, which is a common synonym of “körperliche Aktivität” (physical activity) in German everyday language. Example activities for different physical activity intensities that are specific to the North American context, such as horseshoeing and snow-mobiling, were removed. Median completion time for the GSLTPAQ was 1 minute and 9 seconds (interquartile range 44 seconds to 1 minutes and 58 seconds). Interviewees fed back that the questionnaire is overall very clear and easy to understand, the layout and font size are appropriate and easy to read, and the explanatory text is helpful. Conclusions The new German translation of the GSLTPAQ may be used in the context of cancer aetiology, prevention and treatment, to capture self-reported physical activity levels of German-speaking adults.