Cross-cultural adaptation of the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI) for use in the Brazilian population

The current study aimed to adapt the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI), used to assess frailty in the elderly, to the Brazilian population. Conceptual, item, and semantic equivalences were analyzed and the summary version was pre-tested. In the evaluation of conceptual equivalence, the construct for frailty adopted in Brazil demonstrated the same conceptualization as in other cultures where this condition has been investigated. All items included in the original version also showed similarity in the two cultures. High semantic equivalence was observed in the analysis of the items' referential and general meanings. The pre-test showed a high percentage of understanding of items and good acceptance of items by elderly individuals. The results suggest that the TFI version adapted to the Brazilian culture can be a useful tool for assessing health conditions in older Brazilians.