Nine Forward–Backward Translations of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 With Cultural Checks

Introduction: The Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25) is an effective, reliable, and ergonomic tool that can be used for depression diagnosis monitoring in daily practice. To allow its broad use by family practice physicians (FPs), it was translated from English into nine European languages (Greek, Polish, Bulgarian, Croatian, Catalan, Galician, Spanish, Italian, French) the translation homogeneity confirmed. This study describes this process. Methods: First, two translators (an academic translator FP researcher) were recruited forward (FT). A panel of English-speaking FPs included at least 15 experts (researchers, teachers, practitioners) organized each country to finalize FT using a Delphi procedure. Results: One or procedure rounds sufficient translation. Then, different translator, who did not know original version HSCL-25, performed backward English. An expert linguists compared versions. Differences listed multicultural consensus group determined whether they due linguistic problems cultural differences. All versions underwent check. Conclusion: translations finalized without altering meaning.