INTRODUCTION: Despite the important role played by sexual function in quality of life, there is a scarcity of instruments in the Brazilian literature specifically designed to assess this aspect, and especially of instruments that can be used with both men and women. The adaptation of the Scale for Quality of Sexual Function (QSF), a unisex scale, is an important step in the production of instruments that allow to compare results obtained in different populations. OBJECTIVE: To describe the translation and semantic adaptation of the QSF into Brazilian Portuguese. METHODS: Instrument adaptation involved five phases: 1) two independent translations, 2) a consensual version produced by translators and experts, 3) evaluation of this version by a different expert, not involved in the previous phases, 4) back translation with evaluation by the author of the original scale, and, finally, 5) application of the final Brazilian Portuguese version in a experimental group. RESULTS: All stages of the adaptation process are described. The participation of experts from the fields of both mental health and human sexuality since the first stage of the process contributed to broader discussions, which allowed to achieve the best possible adequacy for each item, both conceptually and culturally. The experimental application of the final, adapted version of the scale involved both men and women with different educational backgrounds and levels. No difficulties were faced by this group in understanding the items included in the scale. CONCLUSION: The procedures and process herein described successfully allowed to develop a Brazilian Portuguese version of the QSF.
Scales; psychometrics; physiological sexual dysfunction; psychological sexual dysfunctions; sexuality
