title: [Functional disability indexes: translation difficulties and cross cultural adaptation problems].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize the difficulties involved in translating tests in Arabic and to describe the translation methods and to apply those to functional indexes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four functional indexes were translated and then subjected to the following test validation methods: back translation, pre-test, and review by an expert committee.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Translation problems were underlined. These include in particular the different types of equivalence between the source language and the target language (semantics, idioms, conceptual... equivalences). Problems related to comprehensive literal words were the most observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current method combining translation with back translation is not sufficient and must be used with, a pre-test and a review committee.
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine physique et réadaptation fonctionnelle, Hôpital H. Bourguiba, Université du Sud, Sfax, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guermazi
authors.forename: Monem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yahia
authors.forename: Wassia
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kessomtini
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elleuch
authors.forename: Sameh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghroubi
authors.forename: Sidya Abderrahman
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ould
authors.forename: Fouzia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mrabet
authors.forename: Hbib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fki
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fermanian
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Poiraudeau
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Revel
authors.forename: Sofiène
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baklouti
authors.forename: Mohamed Habib
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Elleuch
mesh_terms: D018912:Arabs; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000145:classification*; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D012720:Severity of Illness Index