Attitude, expectation and needs of Cochrane knowledge translation volunteers in China

Article type
Authors
Lu CL1, Li X1, Liu J1, Qiao S1, Liu X1, Li Y1
1Centre for Evidence-based Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
Abstract
Background: our centre is responsible for Cochrane knowledge translation (KT) in simplified Chinese. We have run regular workshops to recruit potential volunteers since 2015. Volunteers who understand are essential for maintaining and developing the translation activities.

Objectives: to learn about the attitude, expectation and needs of potential volunteers, in order to improve the management model and provide better support.

Methods: we developed a 10-item questionnaire online (www.wjx.cn) about experiences, attitude, expectation and need with Cochrane KT, and had released Cochrane projects introductory training information online 1 week before. All the potential volunteers were asked to finish the questionnaire immediately after the workshop.

Results: a total of 49 volunteers completed the questionnaire; 73% were medical students; 67% of responses showed they had heard about Cochrane (Fig 1). Only 12% had been involved in Cochrane: producing Cochrane Reviews, translating, and using the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) database. For most, 63%, Cochrane was recommended by their friends, and 36% obtained recruitment information through Wechat (largest social media in China) (Fig 2). Respondents expected to gain medical translation experience and to learn about evidence-based medicine for writing systematic reviews. Their greatest challenge to participation in Cochrane KT was their medical English translation skill and their limited vocabulary. Thus, they were in urgent need of training on the following ranked techniques:
1) medical English translation technique;
2) evidence-based medicine methodology;
3) Cochrane Review writing; and
4) operation of Memsource online.
Most, 98%, said they would try, and 82% expressed willingness, to be a volunteer for more than six months. All responders were satisfied with our presentation and understood the Cochane KT project.

Conclusions: the majority of potential volunteers are medical students at university. The recommendation of a peer is the best way to disseminate Cochrane, and Wechat also provides a high communication capability. Language is still the biggest barrier in the involvement of KT volunteers and in communication of evidence. Further specific support should be carried out. Offline workshops also provides a means for Cochrane to be more accessible in reality.

Patient or healthcare consumer involvement: the study also shows non-Cochrane contributors' attitude, expectation and needs; these people may be patients or healthcare consumers. Therefore, we can work out the barriers to understanding and using Cochrane evidence, translating evidence, and communicating evidence, in order to explore multilingual solutions for evidence.