OBJECTIVES: To develop an information booklet for French speaking low back pain patients, promoting staying active as a single treatment for low back pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A four-step procedure was used to obtain the information booklet. Selection of a booklet using a literature search and pre-defined criterias. Translation/back-translation technique with a method used for health-related quality of life cross-cultural adaptation method. Content validity assessment by a knowledge questionnaire submitted to 32 low back pain patients hospitalized for treatment and a review by two independent MD. Check accordance of the translated document with original authors and editor guidelines. RESULTS: The use of a standardized translation/back-translation procedure permitted to obtain a translation of the back book suitable for French patients. The significant improvement (P = 10(-6)) in patients' knowledge confirmed the quality of the translation. CONCLUSIONS: Translation and cultural adaptation of an information booklet should allow cross-cultural studies in the field of information for low back pain patients.