Translation into Bengali and validation of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer fatigue 12 cancer-related fatigue questionnaire

Introduction: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a prevalent and distressing consequence of cancer and its therapies. Assessment of CRF is absolutely crucial. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) quality of life questionnaire-fatigue 12 (FA12) is one of the most often used instruments for assessing fatigue associated with cancer. As the questionnaire needs to be self-answered and the original version is in English, translation into the vernacular language is essential. Our aim was to translate the FA12 questionnaire into Bengali and validate it in the intended population. Materials and Methods: The translation was conducted using the EORTC translation manual, after receipt of permission from the EORTC translation office. The FA12 questionnaire was initially forward translated into an intermediate Bengali version and followed by back translated into English, which was then compared to the original English version. The pilot testing of the Bengali version was conducted, and modifications were incorporated to achieve the final Bengali translation. Results: Four separate individuals (two each for forward and backward translations), who were native speakers of Bengali but fluent in English, translated the questionnaire. The entire procedure was explicitly documented and ratified by the EORTC office. Discrepancies, which were mainly linguistic, were resolved through mutual discussion to yield a socioculturally adapted literatim translation. The translated questionnaire was pilot tested on 20 patients. The Cronbach’s alpha value was 0.86, showing good internal consistency. Conclusion: The Bengali translation of the FA12, now available for free download for academic researchers worldwide. It will be of immense help to assess the CRF in Bengali-speaking cancer patients and tailor comprehensive cancer care.