Translation and validation of the Partner Communication Scale – Brazilian version with female teenagers

Abstract

This study aimed to describe the process of adaptation and validation of the Partner Communication Scale with female adolescents in Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. This methodological research, with a quantitative approach, was conducted with 313 adolescent, aged 14–18 years who had already lost their virginity. The transcultural adaptation process was performed by using translation, back translation, evaluation of the translations by a committee of judges, and testing of the final-draft version. The scale was administered with a sociodemographic questionnaire including sexual and reproductive variables, from November 2010 to January 2011. The reliability was assessed by the Cronbach’s alpha (0.86), which demonstrated that it can be successfully applied in the setting of primary health care, during nurse consultations. Moreover, the scale allows for the identification of factors that hinder or facilitate communication, especially concerning sexually transmitted diseases. The scale is an adequate way to verify communication between sexual partners in adolescence.