[Herth Hope Index--instrument adapted and validated to Portuguese]

This study was aimed at making available the Herth Hope Index adapted and validated into Portuguese in a study carried out with chronic disease patients. The scale is based on the original American instrument, and made possible the existence of an instrument to measure hope, something that did not exist previously in Brazil. For the cultural adaptation and validation were followed the methods that the literature recommends. The sample was comprised of 131 patients divided into 3 groups, of which 47 were oncology patients, 40 2-type diabetes patients, and 44 caretakers of these patients. The instrument consists of 12 statements with Likert-type answers with scores from 1 to 4 each; the higher the score, the higher the hope. The adapted Herth Hope Index has demonstrated suitable psychometric properties and for that reason is available for use.