[Translating questionnaires for use in crosscultural research--are we doing the right thing?]

The translation of health related QoL (HRQL) instruments for use in another culture is still a science under development and there are situations of more than one version of the same questionnaire. Specialized medical subjects are difficult content area and good professional translators are often incapable of translating medical material. Technical traps may lead to erroneous research conclusions that, although due to methodological flaws, are undetectable as such and considered to be substantive in nature and even those who are aware of the problem find its solution daunting. Although standards for translation of questionnaires do not exist, are we doing the right thing?