The Translation and Adaptation of the Labour Force Survey Disability Module (LFS-DM) Into Hindi

Background and objective Disability assessments are crucial for identifying barriers faced by individuals with disabilities, particularly in countries like India, where disability is often underreported. The Labour Force Survey Disability Module (LFS-DM) is a widely used tool for disability assessment. It is available in English, and Indian Hindi-speaking people who are not proficient in English may face difficulties in responding to it. This study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the LFS-DM into Hindi. This will improve its accessibility and relevance for Hindi-speaking populations in India. Methods The LFS-DM was translated into Hindi using a forward and backward translation process involving three bilingual experts. The resulting Hindi version was reviewed for conceptual equivalence (on a 10-point scale) by three healthcare professionals. Pilot testing was conducted with 51 participants with various disabilities who completed the questionnaire and participated in cognitive interviews. The test-retest reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with a two-week interval between administrations. Results The linguistic validation process ensured that the Hindi version of the LFS-DM was conceptually equivalent to the original English version with an average score of 9.57 ±0.48. Pilot testing revealed that all participants (27 males, 24 females, mean age: 45.6 ±7.8 years) easily understood the questions, with no major issues reported. Test-retest reliability was good to excellent, with ICC ranging from 0.843 (minimum) to 0.999 (maximum). Conclusions The Hindi-translated LFS-DM was linguistically valid and had similar conceptual equivalence with the original questionnaire. It showed good to excellent test-retest reliability. Hence, it can be used in the assessment of disability among Hindi-speaking populations. This tool can be used in future research, healthcare assessments, and policy development, contributing to more inclusive practices for persons with disabilities in India.