A Persian Translation and Cross-cultural Adaptation of the Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire

Work related dermatitis is one of the most prevalent diseases, which its economic and social effects on the individual and the society is considerable. The Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire (NOSQ-2002) is known as a comprehensive and standardized tools for screening the occupational skin diseases.The main purpose of this study was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the NOSQ-2002/SHORT into Persian. A survey cultural translation carried out during 2018 in Mashhad, Iran. The NOSQ-2002/SHORT adaptation process included the forward translation and reconciliation, back translation and an expert panel assessment. The content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI) were calculated according the to Lawshe formula. The Persian version of the questionnaire was tested in 30 workers attended the training courses for health ID card confirmation as a pilot study and were confirmed by physical examination. Base on the participants’ opinion, the ambiguous questions were modified by the expert panel. All the 15 questions had a CVR of 0.6 and higher. The overall content validity index of the questionnaire was equal to 0.80. Some obscure words not good understood by the pilot study participants were revised. The results of the questionnaire declaration was matched with the physical examination for each worker. The Persian version of the NOSQ-2002/SHORT questionnaire is now available for researchers for assessment hand eczema in the work settings. Further research is suggested to evaluate the validity of the Persian version of NOSQ-2002.