[Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Recent-Onset Arthritis Disability (ROAD) index into Brazilian Portuguese].

INTRODUCTION The increasing search for the psychological treatment of patients with chronic diseases and with clinical indications for the control of physical and psychological capacities has revealed a need for instruments aimed at assessing these patients. Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that has been widely studied with a focus on the development of new drugs and treatment approaches. However, psychometric instruments developed for this specific population are still rare. OBJECTIVE To describe the translation and cross-cultural adaptation into Brazilian Portuguese of the Recent-Onset Arthritis Disability (ROAD) index. METHODS The process involved two translations and back-translations performed by four independent translators, the assessment of all versions obtained, followed by the development of a synthetic version by specialists in the field. The process was completed with an experimental application of the instrument. RESULTS All stages of the translation/adaptation process are described. No comprehension difficulties were reported by the participants, who had different education levels, ranging from elementary school to university level. CONCLUSION At the end of the study, the final version of the ROAD index in Brazilian Portuguese is presented. The adapted instrument was considered adequate and equivalent in meaning to the original instrument.