[Interpretation of questionnaires. An translation method problem].

For use in a different cultural background, translated questionnaires need to be validated in the new context. International guidelines are needed for such validation, as precision in translation is an important methodological issue. The article consists in a review of the issue and recommended guidelines for the translation and validation of questionnaires, based on the authors' experience and international literature in the field. The authors participate in a European research programme (EU/BIOMED-Europep), set up to develop a questionnaire for exploring patients' priorities and their evaluations of important aspects of general practice.