Adaptação transcultural do Computer Proficiency Questionnaire: assessing low and high computer proficient seniors para o contexto brasileiro

Abstract

Despite the demographic transition emphasizing social participation in promoting healthy aging, digital inclusion for older adults remains a challenge. Promoting digital citizenship requires specific training and validated instruments. Currently, there is no Brazilian tool to assess older adults' proficiency in using information and communication technology. Objective: Cross-culturally translate and adapt a questionnaire for older adults' computer proficiency in Brazil. Materials and Methods: A methodological study followed the literature for cross-cultural adaptation of the original U.S. Computer Proficiency Questionnaire: Assessing Low and High Computer Proficient Seniors to the Brazilian context. The methodological study included the initial translation by three independent Brazilian translators proficient in English, translation synthesis developed by the researchers of this study, backtranslation carried out by two independent U.S. translators proficient in Brazilian Portuguese, and cross-cultural adaptation through semantic, idiomatic, experiential, and conceptual equivalence, conducted by five judges from the fields of Gerontology and Gerontechnology. Finally, the questionnaire underwent a pre-test with 20 older adults residing in Curitiba/PR and Bariri/SP. Participants were recruited from a database linked to an extension project for older adults and through social media outreach. All stages of questionnaire translation, adaptation, and pre-testing were documented, including suggestions made by translators, back-translators, judges, the target population, and the researchers of this study. Results: Translations (T1, T2, T3) were analyzed by the authors of this study, and a synthesis version was developed (T123). The backtranslation of the synthesis version was submitted for approval and consensus with the original authors. After approval, a committee of judges reviewed and compared all translations. The items obtained agreement ranging from 20% to 100%. Disagreements led to replacements, such as using a webcam and video conferencing rooms instead of using a trackball and chat rooms. After corrections and revisions, the questionnaire was applied in the pre-test. Of the 20 evaluated participants, 55% were female, married, with an average age of 70.85 years (5.71), income of 5 or more minimum wages, with an average of 11.9 years of education (3-19 years), and accessing the Internet more than once a day. Half demonstrated a reported ability and willingness to answer the questionnaire through an electronic form, while the others chose to fill out the questionnaire in printed format. Participants considered the research to be extremely relevant and generally easy to understand but pointed out some items as "not clear". All suggestions made regarding the questionnaire were deemed relevant, resulting in the pre-final version titled "Computer Proficiency Questionnaire: Assessment of Older Adults with Low and High Information and Communication Technology Proficiency for the Brazilian context". This version showed excellent internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.98. Conclusion: The Brazilian version of the instrument is clear, easy to understand and high reliability, allowing future validation studies. This study represents the first step in the extensive application of this instrument in public and private initiatives aimed at digital inclusion of the seniors. However, it is crucial to highlight that the questionnaire will undergo a validation process and analysis of its psychometric properties, ensuring its quality and effectiveness in assessing technology proficiency among the elderly.