Translation and transcultural adaptation of the Migrasalud questionnaire for the assessment of mental health and well-being in the migratory process

Abstract

Abstract Background: The aim of the present study was to follow different language adaptation steps towards conceptual equivalence to guarantee the cross-cultural applicability of an instrument that explored the relationship between migration, and mental health barriers and protective factors. The procedures followed during the process may provide practical guidance for intercultural research designs. Methods: A translation protocol based on a cross-cultural study aiming (+18) migrants who arrived in Barcelona in the last 5 years –most frequently Pakistani, Arabic, Chinese, English but also Latino or Spanish-speaking communities- was developed consisting on four stages -1) translation; 2) back-translation; 3) synthesis and 4) pre-testing- and applied to individuals in a sample representative of the 5 target languages-. Team-based translation experts, multicultural translators and a systematically constructed method for translation and back-translation from source and target languages where some of the strategies for transparency and reproducibility of scientific methods. Discussion: The present work implied the translation and back-translation of the instrument and was comprehensively conducted to achieve concept equivalence between the original questionnaire version with the translated version in detecting mental health deterioration or empowerment in the context of international migration. Trial registration: not applicable