Complexities in the process of translating research documents in cross-cultural settings

ABSTRACT

In multilingual societies, where researchers and participants often do not speak the same language, research is a challenge as a mismatch of understanding between researchers, research instruments and participants often occurs. Reporting on the translation process is crucial because of the potential implications for the validity of the data that follow from it. We aimed to report on the complexities of such a translation process and many considerations that came to our attention. Methodologically, we used a detailed case study to demonstrate that the complexity of translation might be underestimated by researchers who may neglect to report on the challenges that they experience to benefit the wider research community. We emphasise that translating documents, particularly between languages that are not cognate, requires time and financial resources that researchers often do not anticipate or plan for. By discussing what happened to texts that were translated, and how we as researchers were challenged by considerations that were primarily linguistic but also straddled cultural and socio-political domains, we hope to encourage a deeper understanding of the translation task. We conclude that consideration of these complexities is necessary if the aim is the development of translated documents which complement the researchers’ goals.     

La importancia de la longitudinalidad,integralidad, coordinación y continuidad de los cuidados domiciliarios efectuados por enfermería

Home care is essential for dependent persons, in order to support the high levels of morbidity, for the elderly as well as their caregivers, as it enables patients to remain in their familiar environment as long as possible, fulfilling the wish expressed by most of the population. Home care is the activity that best represents the essential attributes (longitudinality, comprehensiveness, continuity, coordination) of the primary, and that suffers most when these attributes are not included in the activities undertaken by primary care teams, or due to cuts in health-care.Home care requires highly skilled, versatile and committed nursing staff, with whom the population identifies as a source of care, and where they are assessed for their relevance and effectiveness. Nurses with wide clinical care skills, with a balanced content of treatment and prevention, and the freedom to develop their work, are needed in order to continuously monitor the health problems of their acute and chronic patients, in the family and community.     

个案研讨式沙龙在老年患者护理骨干培训中的应用效果

目的探讨个案研讨式沙龙在老年患者护理骨干培训中的应用及效果。方法 2012年6-9月南方医科大学珠江医院举办护理人员老年患者护理专项进修班,从各个专科老年人的常见病、重点需要解决的问题、难点入手,通过个案研讨、统一规范的组织形式安排组织了7次个案研讨式沙龙活动。在沙龙开展前和最后一次沙龙结束时进行问卷调查,并评价培训效果。结果 33名学员中,26名(占78.8%)学员在参加本期护理沙龙前没有参加过其他形式的护理沙龙;对本期沙龙的形式及内容安排的满意率为100%,认为总体收获较大的32名(占97.0%)学员认为个案研讨式沙龙对提高临床实践能力比较有效,33名(100%)学员认为对提高全院老年患者护理整体水平和科室间合作非常重要;参加个案研讨式沙龙前后,学员的老年患者护理相关能力自评总分分别为(33.98±8.564)分、(51.87±6.668)分,差异有统计学意义(t=19.549,P<0.01),且老年患者护理相关能力13个自评项目的评分均高于参加前,差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.01)。结论个案研讨式沙龙对提高临床老年患者护理骨干临床实践能力、促进理论向实践转化起到了积极的作用,在今后的护理骨干培养中可以进一步推广并实施。     

公立医院职称评审社会化研究

对现行公立医院评审制度进行阐述并分析其存在的主要问题。面对当前现实,在保留公立医院职称制度的前提下,对职称评审制度提出改革建议。建议采取社会化的评审方式,以打破公立医院和行政机关对于职称评审的垄断。从公立医院职称评审主体、标准、程序、公开化、法治化和信息化等六个方面论述了评审社会化改革的路径。     

Occupational Therapy Intervention for Residents in a Skilled Nursing Facility: A Focus on Atypical Patients

The 1990 implementation of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) has expanded opportunities for occupational therapists to treat individuals with non-traditional illnesses. Therapists working in skilled nursing and long term care can benefit from gaining an understanding of the OBRA guidelines and patient's rights, especially regarding restraint reduction. Occupational therapists possess the necessary skills to assess and treat these individuals to help maximize their functioning as well as improve their quality of life (Moon-Sperling & Pinson, 1991). The premise of this article is to inform therapists about various types of ethical and legal intervention with atypical patients in skilled nursing facilities and to introduce therapists to the laws supporting provision of these services. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1–800–342–9678. E-mail address: getinfo@haworth.com]