The process and challenges in the translation of World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL- BREF) to a regional language; Malayalam

• Main Authors: Bindu Menon, Sandhya Cherkil, S Aswathy, A G Unnikrishnan, G Rajani
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2012-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine
• Subjects: Malayalam; quality of life; World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF
• Online Access: http://www.ijpm.info/article.asp?issn=0253-7176;year=2012;volume=34;issue=2;spage=149;epage=152;aulast=Menon

A lot of research has been directed on wellbeing and disability in many non-communicable disease conditions. In this context, health-related aspects of life and quality of life (QOL) are receiving a lot of focus. Many Quality of Health measures are available, of which World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) is one of the most popular. Translating and adapting this tool is useful in view of research happening in a multicultural arena. Though translations into Hindi and other Indian languages including Tamil and Kannada have been done, a Malayalam version is not available. This paper discusses the steps adopted in this exercise and the challenges in translating WHOQOL-BREF to Malayalam from the original English version.