Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Social Needs: Patient Questionnaire to European spoken Portuguese

Authors

  • Madalena Melo Jorge MD. Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra. Coimbra, Portugal.
  • Joana Rita Brito Matos MD. Clínica Universitária de Medicina Geral e Familiar, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra. Coimbra, Portugal | USF Fernando Namora, ULS Coimbra. Condeixa-a-Nova, Portugal.
  • Luiz Miguel de Mendonça Soares Santiago MD. Clínica Universitária de Medicina Geral e Familiar, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra. Coimbra, Portugal | MD, PhD. Centro de Estudos e Investigação em Saúde da Universidade de Coimbra (CEISUC). Coimbra, Portugal.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v41i6.14098

Keywords:

Social needs, Patient, Health, Socioeconomy

Abstract

Objectives: To cross-culturally adapt and validate the Social Needs: Patient Questionnaire (SN-PQ) for European Portuguese for individuals 18 to 65 years old.

Methods: Observational study, the questionnaire underwent cross-cultural adaptation following translation debriefing and back-translation to English, and its internal consistency, doubts, and criticism. The validation stage used a Google Forms version of the questionnaire distributed via social networks, with its score being calculated, and gender, the Socioeconomic Deprivation Index, and suffering from multimorbidity were used as context variables. The SN-PQ score was calculated as the sum of the eleven needs, higher score meaning more needs.

Results: The correlation between SEDI and SN-PQ was moderately negative and significant, ρ=-0.415, p<0.001. Women more frequently showed concern about food and medical care expenses, p=0.027 and p=0.007, respectively. People with higher socio-economic stratum showed significantly less housing problems, p=0.001, more confidence in completing documents alone, p=0.010, and dealing with health and problems, p=0.010. For n=61 (48.8%) of this sample, there was at least one social need, transport to and from medical appointments being the most frequent one. No differences were found by gender, p=0.069, age group, p=0.122, or having multimorbidity, p=0.291.

Discussion: This is the first Portuguese study to address these social needs of health. It is worth stressing the pertinence of further research for a deeper understanding of the relationship between a person’s social needs and health consequences.

Conclusion: In this online sample, 48.8% reported at least one social need that should be addressed in Primary Care for better results and health consequences. A better socio-economic class meant fewer social needs.

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Published

2026-01-07

How to Cite

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Social Needs: Patient Questionnaire to European spoken Portuguese. (2026). Portuguese Journal of Family Medicine and General Practice, 41(6), 474-85. https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v41i6.14098

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