Authors

  1. Martin, Rene PhD, RN

Article Content

Cardiac rehabilitation research and practice in South Korea is hindered by the lack of culturally appropriate measures. The purpose of this study-in-progress is to evaluate the psychometric properties and cultural appropriateness of a Korean language translation of the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ). The SAQ was designed to assess health related quality of life in patients with CHD and predicts clinical outcomes in Western cardiac samples. Phase I of the study involved establishing the equivalence and evaluation of psychometric properties of the Korean SAQ. The SAQ was translated forward and backward to establish content and semantic equivalence, respectively via bilingual persons. The translation process was evaluated by clinical specialists and nurses in the U.S. and Korea in order to evaluate cultural appropriateness. Phase II will involve pilot-testing the Korean SAQ with coronary heart disease (CHD) patients at clinical sites in South Korea. The measure will be useful in promoting clinical and empirical understanding of Korean CHD patients' behaviors and in facilitating the development and provision of optimal cardiac rehabilitation in South Korea.