Translation and cultural adaptation of the COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale into German.

Background: Experts estimate that in up to 10% of the infected, SARS-CoV-2 would cause persistent symptoms, activity limitations and reduced quality of life. Referred to as long COVID, these conditions might, in the future, specifically impact German-speaking countries due to their higher rates of unvaccinated people compared to other Western countries. Accurate measurement of symptom burden and its consequences is needed to manage conditions such as long COVID, and several tools have been developed to do so. However, no patient-reported instrument existed in the German language at the time of writing. Objective: This study, therefore, aimed to develop a German version of the COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale (C19-YRS). Methods: We conducted a translation and qualitative evaluation, including cultural adaptation, of the C19-YRS and assessed its face validity. After creating a preliminary version, 26 individuals (14 women [53%]) participated in cognitive interviews (January 2022 to March 2022). Using cognitive debriefing interviews, we ensured the content's comprehensibility. The matrix-framework method guided the qualitative data analysis. Results: Compared to the original English version, adaptations were necessary, resulting in changes to the introductory text, while the items for recording persistent symptoms were hardly changed. Conclusion: The German version of the C19-YRS is expected to support standardized long COVID care.