Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: The Russian translation project started in May 2014 with a team of volunteers from Kazan Federal University, initially affiliated to the Nordic Cochrane Centre, and now part of Cochrane Russia (since August 2015). In March 2015 we conducted a survey to assess translation quality, and reported results at the 2015 Colloquium, having translated 200+ PLS.
Objectives: To re-assess quality of Russian translations and their impact through user feedback, aiming to establish the survey as the quality assurance tool for Russian translations.
Methods: We conducted online Google survey (in Russian and English) from March 2015 to March 2016. We invited respondents via e-forum E-LEK (WHO, Dept Essential Medicines), links on Cochrane.org website, social networks (started in January 2016), invitations to new volunteers. The survey consists of 10 questions on clarity, quality of translated texts, needs, impact for Russian-speaking community, suggestions for improvement.
Results: By April 2016, 188 people had responded (173 in Russian, 15 in English), mostly representing health professions (n = 125; 67%), with 730 translations published. Russian translations are clear to most respondents (n = 186; 99%), who rated the quality of Russian translations as high as before: excellent (n = 45; 24% vs 31%), good (n = 114; 61% vs 51%), satisfactory (n = 20; 11% vs 14%). All but one respondent noted good compliance of the Russian translations with the original English texts. A higher proportion of respondents (n =181, 96% vs 92%) recognise the need of Cochrane evidence for Russian-speaking countries. A lower proportion of respondents than before (n=109; 58% vs 66%) prefer translations be worded in Russian freely, without precise compliance to original text, with nearly half voting for full compliance to original texts (n = 79; 42%). We welcome and thank respondents for valuable suggestions.
Conclusions: The survey works as a valuable tool that helps to ensure translation quality and improvement. We are planning to expand dissemination via social media, medical journals, newspapers, and hope the survey will continue to feed quality assurance and attract volunteers.
Objectives: To re-assess quality of Russian translations and their impact through user feedback, aiming to establish the survey as the quality assurance tool for Russian translations.
Methods: We conducted online Google survey (in Russian and English) from March 2015 to March 2016. We invited respondents via e-forum E-LEK (WHO, Dept Essential Medicines), links on Cochrane.org website, social networks (started in January 2016), invitations to new volunteers. The survey consists of 10 questions on clarity, quality of translated texts, needs, impact for Russian-speaking community, suggestions for improvement.
Results: By April 2016, 188 people had responded (173 in Russian, 15 in English), mostly representing health professions (n = 125; 67%), with 730 translations published. Russian translations are clear to most respondents (n = 186; 99%), who rated the quality of Russian translations as high as before: excellent (n = 45; 24% vs 31%), good (n = 114; 61% vs 51%), satisfactory (n = 20; 11% vs 14%). All but one respondent noted good compliance of the Russian translations with the original English texts. A higher proportion of respondents (n =181, 96% vs 92%) recognise the need of Cochrane evidence for Russian-speaking countries. A lower proportion of respondents than before (n=109; 58% vs 66%) prefer translations be worded in Russian freely, without precise compliance to original text, with nearly half voting for full compliance to original texts (n = 79; 42%). We welcome and thank respondents for valuable suggestions.
Conclusions: The survey works as a valuable tool that helps to ensure translation quality and improvement. We are planning to expand dissemination via social media, medical journals, newspapers, and hope the survey will continue to feed quality assurance and attract volunteers.