Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of ataxia to European Portuguese

Abstract

Introduction: The Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) is a valuable tool for evaluating the signs and symptoms of ataxia and grading its severity. Objectives: To contribute to the translation, cross-cultural adaptation of SARA for the Portuguese population, and to create and validate a manual for healthcare professionals. Materials and Methods: This study included two distinct phases: the first consisted of the translation and cultural adaptation, and the second involved the creation and validation of an application manual, composed of two sections: audiovisual and textual, to facilitate and standardize the application of the SARA scale. Results: In the first stage, a final version of SARA was obtained, translated, and adapted for European Portuguese with 100% concordance among experts; in the second stage, the 26 experts considered the application manual to be clear, comprehensible, and important for the clinical practice of health professionals. Conclusion: The Portuguese version of SARA showed semantic, conceptual, and content equivalence with the original scale, and the application manual proved to be clear, understandable, and significant. Future studies are suggested to analyze the psychometric properties of SARA, to enable its provision for the clinical practice of healthcare professionals.