Validation of an Arabic translation of the Functional Mobility Assessment (FMA) tool for assistive mobility device users

Abstract

Abstract Background Functional mobility assessment (FMA) tool is a self-report questionnaire developed to measure users’ satisfaction with assistive mobility devices while performing activities of daily living. Purpose To validate an Arabic translation of the FMA tool for Arabic-speaking assistive mobility devices users. Methods A committee of 2 bilingual qualified occupational therapists translated the English version into Arabic which was verified by back translation. The final versions were administered to bilingual assistive mobility devices users. The participants were randomly assigned to answer either the English or Arabic version of the FMA first, followed by answering the FMA in the other language. The scores obtained were tested for agreement using the kappa statistic. Results Participants’ (n=52), 28 were males and 24 were females, average participant age was 39.4 years old and had used an assistive mobility device for 6.4 years. We found a significant moderate agreement between the scores obtained from the two versions (p<0.000). The kappa measurement of agreement was 0.59 (95% confidence interval, 0.48–0.70). Conclusion The FMA is now available in Arabic, and it is an appropriate measure for use in research and clinical practice to quantify satisfaction with a functional mobility among assistive mobility device users. Further studies should test its psychometric properties.