[German translation and adaptation of the uncertainty stress scale high risk pregnancy version III (USS-HRPV) for hospitalised women with high-risk pregnancy].

Background: A number of medical and societal factors currently contribute to an increasing number of women who are hospitalised because they are experiencing high-risk pregnancies. The unpredictability of the further course of pregnancy may lead to a feeling of uncertainty, as well as to stress, depending on coping strategies.

Aims: The aims of this study were thus to translate and adapt the USS-HRPV so that uncertainty and stress could be systematically measured on affected women in German speaking areas.

Method: Translation of the scale was undertaken by first translating into German and then back into English. The two-phase adaptation, carried out with affected women (n = 24) and midwives (n = 10), comprised cognitive interviews and testing of content validity using the Content Validity Index (CVI). Following each data collection phase the instrument was modified with the help of midwifery experts (n = 3).

Results: For each item the calculated CVI (I-CVI) in the first phase ranged between 0,10 and 1,0 for the sample of relevant women and midwives while the CVI of the total instrument (S-CVI/Ave) was 0,62 and 0,70 respectively. In the second phase the I-CVI values of the hospitalised women ranged between 0,17 and 1,0 while the S-CVI/Ave value was 0,73. With regard to all of the data, 44 of the original 86 items were removed and 28 altered on language grounds.

Conclusions: As a result of the methodical approach utilised, a firm basis for further validation of the instrument for German speaking areas has been provided.