OBJECTIVE: To adapt and validate an Estonian version of the RAQoL. The measure, developed in the UK, assesses rheumatoid arthritis (RA) specific quality of life (QoL). The aim of the cultural and linguistic adaptation of the RAQoL is to produce a version with equally good psychometric properties to existing language versions. METHODS: Translation consisted of two stages. The first involved six Estonians with non-medical backgrounds and good English who worked together to agree a first translation of the questionnaire. The group was attended by one of the authors of the RAQoL who advised on the precise meaning of items. The appropriateness of wording and clarity of content of the translation were then evaluated by 6 healthy people of average educational level. In the next stage of adaptation 15 RA patients were interviewed to determine face and content validity. RESULTS: No major problems were found in translating the questionnaire into Estonian. Patient interviews indicated that the content of the RAQoL was highly appropriate for Estonian patients, despite differences in health service provision and culture from the UK. CONCLUSION: This is the first occasion on which a disease-specific QoL questionnaire has been adapted into Estonian and the results are very encouraging. The final stage of the adaptation will be a formal survey of reproducibility and construct validity of the adapted measure. The novel aspect of the survey is that data will be collected by means of patient interview and will include a clinical assessment of functional status and disease activity at the time of interview. It is intended that the RAQoL will be used to evaluate interventions and to be included with the HAQ in a register of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.