Abstract

Nowadays the use of a universal approach is emphasized to address issues of world level interest in the areas of education, economy and health, among others. This requires cross-sectional indicators that allow adequate comparisons. In the health area this is especially relevant to gain knowledge, understanding and responses of health problems that transcend borders. Most health assessment instruments have been developed in Anglo-Saxon cultures and languages, which require a process of Transcultural Adaptation (TA) to be used in Spanish-speaking countries. TA means not only translation; it has steps and requires specific components to ensure the validity and reliability of the instrument when applied to populations with different culture and/or languages. The objective of this article is to review the relevance of cross-cultural adaptation of health instruments, the components and general recommendations of the process as well as some key concepts such as equivalence, the role of the expert committee and the pilot testing of the adapted instrument. It describes the historical development of this process, evidence of its use and current challenges. Finally, the reviewing of the referenced documents is recommended for those who wish to gain more knowledge in the available resources that guide this process.