Linguistic Issues in the Arabic Translation of Patient Information Leaflets in the Saudi Context.

Abstract

Background: The study aims to analyse the specific linguistic issues found in the Arabic translation of 44 patient information leaflets (PILs) conveniently selected. This study is unique in that it highlights the importance of re-checking the official printed Arabic translation of these leaflets and suggests an alternative more lay-friendly translation in order to ensure that patients understand and properly use their medication. The study assumes that the suggested Arabic translation is more effective by answering than the official printed translation, i.e. the one appearing in the patient information leaflets.

Methods: The study used two methods to collect data: a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. Data were collected from 57 respondents to a Google questionnaire consisting of 16 questions about patients’ health awareness, the negative effects of errors in the Arabic translation, and respondents’ reactions to these errors. 77.2% respondents were females and 22.8% of them were males aged between 20-40 years (57.9%; 19.3%). A qualitative semi-structured interview with 9 pharmacists was also conducted to gain in-depth insight into their experience and views regarding the two translations: the printed official one and the suggested one. This interview consisted of 31 questions, soliciting information from the pharmacists and their views about incorrect equivalents, missing phrases and sentences found in the leaflets.

Results: The findings from the pharmacists’ interviews reveal that the suggested translations of the 44 PILs were more effective, whereas the findings from the questionnaire attest to both the effectiveness of these translations in terms of their impact on patients’ health, and the need for a close examination of the leaflets before distributed to the reading public.

Conclusion: Given the effectiveness of the suggested translations of the 44 PILs and their impact on patients’ health, it is therefore imperative that a quality assurance center be established in Saudi Arabia composed of pharmacists and professional translators, and whose aim is to monitor the Arabic translation of these leaflets before they are distributed to the public.