title: The European general practice research network presents the translations of its comprehensive definition of multimorbidity in family medicine in ten European languages.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multimorbidity, according to the World Health Organization, exists when there are two or more chronic conditions in one patient. This definition seems inaccurate for the holistic approach to Family Medicine (FM) and long-term care. To avoid this pitfall the European General Practitioners Research Network (EGPRN) designed a comprehensive definition of multimorbidity using a systematic literature review.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To translate that English definition into European languages and to validate the semantic, conceptual and cultural homogeneity of the translations for further research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forward translation of the EGPRN's definition of multimorbidity followed by a Delphi consensus procedure assessment, a backward translation and a cultural check with all teams to ensure the homogeneity of the translations in their national context. Consensus was defined as 70% of the scores being higher than 6. Delphi rounds were repeated in each country until a consensus was reached.
  
  
  RESULTS
  229 European medical expert FPs participated in the study. Ten consensual translations of the EGPRN comprehensive definition of multimorbidity were achieved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A comprehensive definition of multimorbidity is now available in English and ten European languages for further collaborative research in FM and long-term care.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, Université de Bretagne occidentale, Brest, France.
authors.forename: Jean Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Le Reste
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, Université de Bretagne occidentale, Brest, France.
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nabbe
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, Université de Bretagne occidentale, Brest, France.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rivet
authors.affiliation: Associazione Italiana Medici di Famiglia (AIMEF), Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Charilaos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lygidakis
authors.affiliation: Allgemein Medizin Hochschule Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Doerr
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Doctor, University Nicolaus Copernicus, Torun, Poland.
authors.forename: Slawomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Czachowski
authors.affiliation: Allgemein Medizin Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Heidrun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lingner
authors.affiliation: The Greek Association of General Practitioners (ELEGEIA), Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Argyriadou
authors.affiliation: University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Andrija Stampar School of Public Health, Department of Family Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Djurdjica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lazic
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Radost
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Assenova
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia.
authors.forename: Melida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasaganic
authors.affiliation: IDIAP Jordi Gol, Unitat de Support a La Recerca, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Miquel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Munoz
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmo, Sweden.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thulesius
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, Université de Bretagne occidentale, Brest, France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Le Floch
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, Université de Bretagne occidentale, Brest, France.
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Derriennic
authors.affiliation: Department of English, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieska
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sowinska
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Nederland.
authors.forename: Harm
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Marwijk
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Université de Bretagne occidentale, Brest, France.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lietard
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiteit Antwerpen, Antwerpen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Royen
mesh_terms: D005060:Europe; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical