Transcultural Adaptation of NANDA Taxonomy II to a Brazilian Context

• Published in: The international journal of nursing terminologies and classifications 2003-10, Vol.14 (s4), p.36-36
• Main Authors: Marlene Michel, Jeanne Liliane, Botura Leite de Barros, Alba Lucia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Classification; Languages; Nursing; Translations
• ISSN: 1541-5147; 2047-3087; 1744-618X; 2047-3095
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-618X.2003.032_7.x

PURPOSE To translate NANDA Taxonomy II into Brazilian Portuguese. METHODS Semantic equivalence was obtained through a process of translation and back translation, supervised by a professor (RN and PhD) expert in using nursing diagnoses taxonomy both in teaching and in clinical practice. Conceptual equivalence was attained by presenting the original text, the translation and the back translation of the labels, definitions, defining characteristics or risk factors, and related factors to a group of expert nurses from different specialties who are proficient in English in order to analyze them and to verify if the terms presented in each diagnosis are suitable to the Brazilian nurses' practice reality, making suggestions as appropriate. The results of this analysis and the suggestions were then discussed by a committee with expertise in this kind of work and nursing diagnosis until consensus could be reached. FINDINGS Some difficulties were found in the translation process because of the structural differences between English and Portuguese, and also because many diagnostic concepts are presented in different ways in the book. With the Portuguese translation, trouble occurs because of alphabetical order. Even if this is only a matter of organization, when discussing which one could be the correct form of these diagnostic concepts, a more important question emerged: What really composes the concept? We believe the concept is general, and should not contain components from the other axes. For instance, we think incontinence is better than bowel incontinence, because “bowel” is on the axis topology. We await a response from NANDA in order to continue the work. CONCLUSIONS Providing Brazilian nurses with NANDA Taxonomy II adapted to Brazilian nursing practice will allow them to continue clinical application of this classification, as well as develop research projects.