Transcultural adaptation of a pressure ulcer prevention clinical protocol

Translation and cultural adaptation can be used in both instruments adaptation from one culture to another, as in its construction¹. The pressure ulcers (PU) prevention issue requires that protocols with global language be implemented considering that most publications occurs in American English language. Methodological study that aims to validate, by transcultural adaptation, PU prevention recommendations of clinical protocol, in accordance with national and international ethical standards for research involving human beings. The recommendations were published as part of the protocol “Promoção integral do cuidado ao paciente com feridas: protocolos assistenciais e evidências clínicas”², through evidences identified in an integrative review using publications in english and spanish of reliable databases that were initially translated without adaptation to the Portuguese Language. The validation process of PU prevention protocol started with the initial translations’ transposition to the original reference’s language that they were extracted and subjected to the following steps: 1 - Initial questionnaire translation (forward translation) from english or spanish into portuguese, made by two translators; 2 - Meeting of these two translators for the preparation of translations’ consensual version; 3 – Back translation version in portuguese into english or spanish, made by two other translators; 4 - Participation of all translators at a meeting for the consensual version preparation. All translators are health care or letters specialists, fluent in Brazilian Portuguese and American English, native of Brazil or USA. The results showed in most corresponding semiology relations between Brazilian Portuguese and American English languages. The words "healing" and "change position" were translated into "cura" and "mudança de posição", however, the terms "cicatrização" and "mudança de decúbito" were kept by their specificity when related to wounds. In conclusion, the correct data translation from other languages and cultures to the Brazilian reality should be encouraged, for reducing bias and maximizing care quality.