Objective: Cross-cultural adaptation of the empathy scale by Reynolds W.
Methodology: the method used was that of "translation and translation back" complemented by qualitative methodology (phenomenological qualitative analysis). Two independent bilingual translators of Spanish origin, who had experience in scientific literature about the sanitary field, translated the original scale into Spanish. Next, two Qualified Registered Nurses, who are also Spanish, bilingual, and one of them is living in London at present, translated it into English. A pilot poll was carried out with 49 nurses. It had two open questions so that we could assess the understanding and equivalence of the language used in the items and in the users' guide.
Results: After having elaborated the first Spanish version of the scale, we had a meeting with the author in order to check the items of the two translations into English and we modified items 3, 6, 7 and 9. In the qualitative analysis, the interviewees considered that the examples given in the users' guide had made easier the understanding of the items and the language used was appropriate.
Conclusion: We have obtained the first Spanish adapted version of the Reynolds W. empathy scale. It will need a subsequent evaluation of its validity and reliability