Languages

The AMS scale has been translated into 31 languages. The majority of the translations are accessible via pdf download from the links below.  Translations have usually been undertaken using recognized translation methodology and cultural and linguistic equivalence can be assumed. However, ZEG Berlin was not a party to the translation work and therefore cannot guarantee its equivalence.

The original German AMS scale was first translated and culturally adapted into English.⁷ Most but not all, of the subsequent translations, were based on recommendations for the translation of HRQoL measures ⁸, ⁹, ¹⁰, ¹¹, ¹², ¹³, ¹⁴ using the English version as the source language. We recommend undertaking a six-step process to ensure that AMS questionnaires are appropriately translated: forward translations (at least two independent translators), a consensus meeting with the coordinator of the translation, a check by a bilingual expert in the application field of the scale to evaluate the scientific correctness of the wording, a backward translation, a consensus meeting among the translators with the coordinator, and finally a pretest with a few persons the test is designed for (also called cognitive debriefing).

International versions of the AMS were first published in 2003¹⁵. The publication includes a discussion among the authors of different language versions of the AMS on differing translation methodology. Most of the translations used recommended processes, however, a few deviated from the six-step system; specific reasons for deviation are not discussed in the review.  However, potential users of these scales (Flemish, Croatian, Russian language) should be encouraged to complete the translation.

• Belgium-Flemish version
• Brazilian version (not available here)
• Bulgarian version
• Chilean version (not available here)
• Chinese version (not available here)
• Croatian version
• Danish version
• Dutch version
• English version
• Finnish version
• French version
• German version
• Hungarian version
• Indonesian version
• Italian version
• Japanese version
• Korean version
• Latvian version
• Lebanon-Arabic version
• Malay version (not available here)
• Mongolian version
• Nigerian (Yoruba) version
• Norwegian version
• Polish version
• Portuguese version
• Romanian version
• Russian version
• Slovenian version
• Spanish version
• Swedish version
• Taiwanese version
• Thai version
• Turkish version

Researchers interested in applying the AMS scale in their research can download the appropriate language version for free and use it without formal permission from the copyright holder. As a courtesy, please let us know that you are using the scale.  In return, any new information or developments concerning the AMS will be made available here.