Issues in Using Four Languages in a Culturally Tailored Technology-Based Intervention Study

To provide culturally competent care for racial/ethnic minorities, it is important to provide information and coaching/support in the languages that users can understand. However, issues in using multiple languages, especially in culturally tailored technology-based intervention research among racial/ethnic minority cancer survivors, have rarely been discussed. The purpose of this article is to discuss the issues in using four different languages among Asian American breast cancer survivors with depressive symptoms in a culturally tailored technology-based intervention study for cancer pain management and make suggestions for future technology-based intervention research using multiple languages. Research diaries written by the research team members, the recordings of biweekly research team meetings, and postings on Microsoft Teams were analyzed using content analysis. The issues included: (1) difficulties in recruiting eligible translators for multiple languages; (2) differences in selecting words by translators' traits; (3) difficulties in ensuring conceptual equivalence in measurements; (4) necessary contextual translation based on cultural understanding; (5) avoiding words with stigma; and (6) required multiple repeated steps. These methodological and conceptual issues need to be considered in future culturally tailored technology-based intervention research among racial/ethnic minorities, especially Asian American breast cancer survivors.