University of St Andrews

Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators Tool

SPICT 5 Translations

Translations – new and updated

New translations

This guidance summarises the three main, evidence-based approaches that can be used for the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the SPICT. These are used if making a first translation of SPICT into a new language.

  • A multi-disciplinary team approach and clear process recording are important. This matters even more if you plan to publish a paper on your translation process.
  • People usually start working on a translation with a small group of staff with experience of palliative care.
  • An initial translation is shared with a wider group for peer review.
  • After further edits, the translation is tried out by interested staff in their clinics or wards.
  • It is best for groups from the same country/language group to work together to develop the best possible translation.
  • A final version can be shared with the SPICT international community through the website with the authors’ details.
  • If you are not able to make a pdf version of your translation in the usual SPICT layout, we may be able to help.  Please contact us about this.

Published articles on translations are available on our Publications page.

These SPICT templates can be helpful for your translation process if you are starting a new translation. You can also translate the Using SPICT guides.

World Health Organisation: Process of translation and adaptation of instruments.
Beaton DE et al: Guidelines for the process of cross-cultural adaptation of self-report measures.
Mohler P et al: TRAPD Team Translation Model – Guidelines for Best Practice in Cross-Cultural Surveys. 

Updating a translation of SPICT

If you are updating an existing translation, you do not need to go through the full translation process. We suggest that you work on your updates with people who are using SPICT already and look at how you might change the wording so it makes sense to them.

The SPICT 2025 versions aim to use clear language that reflects what palliative care can offer people when it starts earlier and is integrated with other treatment and care. The overall structure of SPICT and the two groups of indicators have not changed. 

SPICT 2025 refers to ‘life shortening’ conditions because palliative care focuses on helping people live as well as possible. A person’s quality of life is what matters not saying that life will be ‘limited’ by changing health.

Variable and uncertain illness journeys are increasingly common. Terms like ‘advanced’, ‘serious’, ‘life-threatening’ or ‘terminal’ illness are not easy to define and may not reflect changes in a person’s health over years. The SPICT programme does not refer to ‘end of life’ care. This is because people think that means they will die soon and palliative care is only for people in the last months or weeks of life.

Life-shortening mental health conditions and physical health conditions are both highlighted in ‘Other Conditions’.

For our SPICT 2026 versions, we added to one action as follows:
• Review holistic care – symptoms; emotional, social, functional, financial, spiritual, cultural needs. Support families and carers.

X

Cookie preferences