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Table 5 Linguistic, semantic and context related deviations in final translation of the ACT

From: Translating and testing the Alberta context tool for use among nurses in Swedish elder care

Description of translational issue (Swe for Sweden, Ca for Canada)

Type of issue

Discussion (Swe for Sweden, Ca for Canada)

Final decision

Swe: Suggest calling the team ‘nursing team’ in Swedish since there are no other teams in long term care

Context

Ca: The survey includes questions about interactions with physicians, therapists, etc.

‘Nursing’ removed

Ca: ‘with respect to’ not equivalent to ‘starting point’

Raised as semantic, revealed as linguistic

Swe: the word used for ‘starting point’ is equivalent to ‘think of’

Agreed on ‘think of’

Swe: ‘role’ has two meanings, the equivalent of function is the closest

Semantic

Ca: the item is mainly about ensuring the questionnaire is filled out by the target group for the survey and not another health care provider

Agreed on ‘function’

Ca: Number of shifts and number of hours per shift differs between Ca and Swe

Context

Swe: Standard shifts are morning (7.00 -8.00, finishing 13.00 - 16.00), afternoon (start at 11–15, end at 19–21) and night shift

Agreed to country specific groups

Swe: One word equals manager or head or boss

Linguistic

Ca: Manager needs to be specified as home manager

Agreed

Ca: ‘Difficult to hear’ needs a better translation

Linguistic

Swe: Suggest equivalent to ‘unpleasant to hear’

Agreed

Swe: Leave out the word ‘acknowledges’ since no Swedish equivalent works in the context

Linguistic

Ca: This does not impact on meaning

Agreed

Ca: There is a difference between solving and resolving

Raised as semantic, revealed as linguistic

Swe: There is one word only, meaning solving and resolving

Agreed to use suggested word

Swe: There is no equivalent to ‘best practice’

Semantic

Ca: Suggested ‘best possible care’ all right

Agreed

Ca: Having two words separated by a slash makes items double barrelled

Linguistic

Swe: Suggest ‘team’ rather than ‘group’ to equal team and ‘relatives’ to equal family

Agreed

Ca: Aim for the notion of ‘last’ typical month

Semantic

Swe: Suggest we use ‘last ordinary’

Agreed

Ca: ‘attended’ is different from ‘participated’ in English

Raised as semantic, revealed as linguistic

Swe: There is one word meaning both ‘participated’ and ‘attended’

Agreed

Swe: There is no equivalent to respiratory therapist in Sweden

Context

Ca: OK to exclude

Agreed

Swe: ‘Bedside teaching’ does not exist in elder care but suggest ‘Informal teaching in direct nursing care situations’

Linguistic

Ca: OK

Agreed

Ca: ‘Routinely’ needs an equivalent

Linguistic

Swe: No exact word works in this context but suggest using ‘generally’

Agreed

Ca: Does ‘those assigned responsible’ equate to ‘positions of authority’?

Semantic

Swe: Yes

Agreed

Ca: ‘comfortable’ needs an equivalent

Linguistic

Swe: ‘Comfortable’ can be used even if it means applying informal language in the item

Agreed

Swe: ‘team exchanges’ needs to be specified as ‘information exchange’ to clarify that it’s not just any exchange (e.g., recipes)

Semantic

Ca: OK

Agreed

Swe: The word for library is better understood if in definite form or to write it in the plural

Linguistic

Ca: Please use definite form

Agreed

Ca: Please provide equivalent to ‘best day’

Semantic

Swe: ‘best situation achievable’ is the closest

Agreed

Ca: Please provide equivalent to ‘private space’

Semantic

Swe: Suggest using a word indicating both ‘separate’ and ‘private’

Agreed

Ca: Scale should range from ‘Strongly disagree’ to ‘Strongly agree’

Linguistic

Swe: Suggest we use the standard Likert scale wording applied in Swedish

Agreed

Swe: If phrasing How often do you…’ in Swedish in this context, it reads ‘How often do you have…’

Linguistic

Ca: OK

Agreed

Swe: Does ‘care of plan for resident’ equal ‘resident’s care plan’?

Semantic

Ca: Yes it does

Agreed to translate as ‘resident’s care plan’