A systematic and critical review of the process of translation and adaptation of generic health-related quality of life measures in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, South America.

In recent years there has been a worldwide increase in demand for subjective measures of health-related quality of life (HRQL). Researchers have the choice of whether to develop a new measure or whether to adapt an existing measure in another language. This review evaluates the processes used in translating and adapting nine generic HRQL instruments (15D, Dartmouth COOP/WONCA Charts, EuroQol, HUI, NHP, SIP, SF-36, QWB, WHOQOL) for use in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and South America.

Managing a household survey: a practical example from the KENQOL survey. Kenya Quality of Life.

It is vital that surveys are well managed for results to be reliable and meaningful. Poorly managed surveys can result in falsified, lost or incomplete data. Good management requires time to plan and think about all those involved in the process of the survey: the respondents, interviewers, supervisors, coders and the wider community.