Thapa, DRSubedi, MEkström-Bergström, AAreskoug Josefsson, KKrettek, A2026-01-052026-01-052023https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14572/4034Thapa DR,1 Subedi M,2 Ekström-Bergström A,3 Areskoug Josefsson K,3-5 Krettek A6-8 1Department of Nursing and Reproductive Perinatal and Sexual Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Skövde, PO Box 408, 541 28 Skövde, Sweden 2School of Public Health, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, GPO Box 26500, Lalitpur, Nepal 3Department of Health Sciences, University West Gustava Melins gata 2, 461 32 Trollhättan, Sweden 4School of Health and Welfare Jönköping University, Box 1026, 551 11 Jönköping, Sweden 5Department of Behavioural Sciences Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, PO Box 4, 0130 Oslo, Norway 6Department of Public Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Skövde, PO Box 408, 541 28 Skövde, Sweden 7Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Box 400, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden 8Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, POBox 6050, Langnes, 9037 Tromsø, NorwayABSTRACT Background Sense of Coherence (SOC) relates to an individual’s overall life orientation, and stronger SOC is associated with better health, quality of life, and coping strategies. When our research group used the SOC-13 questionnaire for the first time in Nepal, we identified difficulties in response patterns. The findings necessitated further evaluation of the Nepali version of the SOC-13 questionnaire. Objective To qualitatively evaluate the SOC-13 questionnaire in Nepali for cross-cultural adaptation. Method Nineteen nurses were interviewed. We used the methodological approach of “think aloud” to obtain a deeper understanding of the interferences of the scales. Transcribed materials were analyzed using a deductive approach through qualitative content analysis. The original translated version of the SOC-13 questionnaire in Nepali was modified by replacing words that were easier to understand. Result Participants found the questionnaire content general and non-specific but easy to complete. The nurses experienced that the meanings and sentences in some of the items and response alternatives were difficult to understand. However, the overall comprehensiveness of most items and response alternatives was perceived as good. Nurses’ interpretation of the SOC-items in the translated version of the SOC-13 questionnaire in Nepali matched the original English version. Items that were experienced as difficult in the Nepali language were modified to increase their comprehensiveness. Modified items and response alternatives had the same content as before, but some words and meanings were substituted with easier language. Conclusion The current revised version of SOC-13 in Nepali is valid and useful to explore individuals’ overall life orientation and their abilities to deal and cope with various life events in the Nepalese context. KEY WORDS Health resources, Qualitative validation, Resources, Ralutogenesis, Sense of coherenceen-USHealth resourcesQualitative validationResourcesRalutogenesisSense of coherenceArticle