Translation and cross-cultural adaptation to Spanish of the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire

SSQ Spanish version

Abstract

Virtual Reality (VR) uses is growing in the assessment and treatment of neurological patients. However, immersive environments exposure can trigger adverse effects. Checking the possible complications of its use is essential to provide security to therapeutic approaches. The aim of this work has been to carry out a translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ), used to assess cybersickness or adverse symptoms associated with VR, with the aim to decrease risks in the Spanish population. Forward-translation, back-translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the original questionnaire was carried out. Content validation and semantic equivalence was assessed by an expert panel, leading to a preliminary version evaluated in a pilot trial with 54 participants. After obtaining the preliminary version in Spanish, the content validity analysis showed high values (content validity index ³ 0.89 and kappa values ³ 0.89). 42 of the 54 participants (78%) understood the total semantic equivalence raised and 100% of the sample understood 13 of the 16 adapted items (81%). The translation and cross-cultural adaptation into Spanish of the SSQ was carried out in this study, showed an equivalent version to the original questionnaire, presenting a high semantic concordance and facilitating the development of future studies in the Spanish population on the adverse symptoms that VR could generate.