Translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of the mini-Z 2.0 survey among Japanese physicians and residents

Abstract

Objective The Mini-Z 2.0 is a new, simple, and nonproprietary tool for assessing physician well-being and burnout. To date, a non-English version of the Mini-Z 2.0 survey has not been validated. Therefore, we aimed to develop a Japanese version of the Mini-Z 2.0 and to evaluate its validity and reliability using survey data from physicians affiliated with an internal medicine academic society. Methods The Mini-Z 2.0 survey was translated into Japanese using a forward-backward translation method. The participants belonged to the American College of Physicians’ Japan Chapter. The translated version of the Mini-Z 2.0 survey was distributed to participants using an electronic mailing list. Convergent validity was assessed between burnout and other items using Pearson’s product-moment statistic. Structural validity was evaluated using an exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, and reliability was assessed using internal consistency. Results Of the 1,255 physicians and medical residents contacted, 283 responded (22.5%). Burnout was present in 34.6% of the participants, with 48.8% reporting high stress levels. Convergent validity was demonstrated, with satisfactory correlations between burnout and satisfaction, value alignment, work control, and stress. An exploratory factor analysis identified two factors (i.e., Well-Being and Relationships and Work-Related Stressors); however, the three models evaluated using the confirmatory factor analysis revealed a poor fit. Cronbach’s alpha for the sample was 0.80. Conclusion The Japanese version of the Mini-Z 2.0 demonstrated good internal consistency and convergent validity. Despite its inadequate structural validity, it can be used to measure physician well-being and related workplace conditions in Japan.