A reader-centred analysis on the translation of health information brochures

• Main Author: Foo, Shirley Xue Li
• Other Authors: Cui Feng
• Format: Thesis-Master by Coursework
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Humanities::Linguistics
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/168098
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Medical language is typically associated with technical terms that affect readability and understandability, and the communication of information to laypeople has attracted attention in recent decades. Readability formulas are commonly used to assess the readability and understandability of written health information, and studies have consistently reported unsatisfactory results and the limitations of such formulas, including the lack of consideration for reader factors. Concurrently, some studies have demonstrated the benefits of reader involvement in information development and translation. In the local healthcare sector, English is the common language medium for written health information, such as patient education materials (PEMs). English PEMs are then translated into mother tongue versions, but few studies have been conducted on translated PEMs in relation to acceptance. In light of this, the present thesis explores the challenges of communicating medical information to laypeople through PEMs, particularly in the context of English-to-Chinese translation. This thesis argues that readability formulas used to assess the readability and understandability of health information are limited and fail to account for reader factors. A reader-centred approach is proposed to instead better understand how readers perceive and understand translated PEMs, and how translation decisions can be informed to maximise their acceptance. To this end, a questionnaire-based survey conducted among bilingual participants found that local Chinese PEMs were considered less understandable and more technical than the English source PEMs. Perceptions of understandability, technicality, and text naturalness, as well as the presentation of information and reader motivation, were identified as important factors affecting the reception of translated PEMs. The thesis suggests that, in addition to formula-based assessments, collection of reader feedback is crucial to optimise the acceptability and effectiveness of translated PEMs in health communication.