Vietnamese version of the Hypertension Knowledge-Level Scale (HK-LS): Translation and validation

Introduction: In Vietnam, the prevalence of hypertension is increasing rapidly. Patients need to be conscious of the disease for timely prevention and treatment. The Hypertension Knowledge Level Scale (HK-LS) is commonly used to assess knowledge about hypertension. Methods: Data collection was took place in a hospital in Binh Thuan province, Vietnam in February 2020 with a total of 184 paticipants. Translation and adaptation of the HK-LS, validate the questionnaire through in-person interviews with outpatients diagnosed with hypertension. The translation process followed WHO guidelines. The appraisal process evaluates through reliability (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient) and validity (meaningful relationship between the response results of the scale and the patient’s characteristics). Results: The Vietnamese version of the HK-LS was translated and proven to be reliable (Cronbach’s alpha=0.72) and valid (statistically significant difference between age groups (P=0.021) and educational background (P=0.007). Conclusion: The HK-LS was translated from English into Vietnamese; the questions are clear, intelligible, and suitable for surveying patients in Vietnam.