Evaluation & the Health Professions current issue

Introduction to the Second International Translation Special Issue

Bausell, R. B., Sussman, S. — 2008-07-28

Translating an Adolescent Smoking Cessation Program Into Policy and Practice in an Australian Context

Cross, D., Hearn, L., Hamilton, G., Resnicow, K., Hall, M. — 2008-07-28

Although Australia's restrictive tobacco control policies have made it an international leader in reducing smoking prevalence, and only 7% of teens smoke weekly, cessation efforts are still needed among adolescents. Of the campaigns and programs implemented in Australia to reduce this problem among adolescents, most have provided only abstinence messages and few have been effectively evaluated and translated into policy and practice. This article describes the translation of a harm minimization cessation program for teens, the Smoking Cessation for Youth Project (SCYP), derived from an approach developed with adults. In addition, the article describes the unique sociopolitical context of Australia in which the SCYP program was developed and the significant conceptual, contextual, and methodological factors that enabled and limited this program's effective implementation and translation.

The Establishment and Promotion of the First Youth Quitline in Hong Kong Challenges and Opportunities

2008-07-28

This study describes the establishment, promotion, and preliminary findings of a peer-led smoking cessation quitline for Chinese youth smokers in Hong Kong. The Youth Quitline targeted Chinese smokers aged 12 to 25, who smoked at least one cigarette in the past 30 days and were willing to leave telephone numbers for follow up. The protocol was translated from the California Smoker's Helpline and we provided toll-free telephone counseling based on motivational intervention with multiple follow-up sessions for smokers who called the service. By intention-to-treat analysis, 55% reported at least one quit attempt, and the quit rate was 22.1% (self-reported 7-day point prevalence) or 17.5% (self-reported 30-day point prevalence). The Hong Kong Youth Quitline, along with enforcement of the antismoking legislation for both youth and adults, advocacy to de-normalize smoking in the society, and appropriate publicity, could help to promote quitting among youth smokers in Hong Kong.

Potential for Alcohol Policy to Decrease the Mortality Crisis in Russia

Khaltourina, D. A., Korotayev, A. V. — 2008-07-28

Post-Soviet Russia experiences among the world's highest prevalence of alcohol-related problems, which contributes to high mortality rates in this region. Reduction in alcohol-related problems in Russia can have strong effects on mortality decline. This article considers the plausibility of application of general principles of alcohol policy translated in the Russian Federation. We conclude that alcohol policy approaches could be implemented in the same ways as they have been in other countries. In addition, there should be special attention to decreasing distilled spirits consumption, illegal alcohol production, nonbeverage alcohol consumption, and enforcement of current governmental regulations.

Need and Possibilities for Seat Belt Use Promotion in Bashkortostan, Russia

2008-07-28

Bashkortostan is a republic in the Russian Federation with a population of 4.1 million. As with other health behaviors, the prevalence of seat belt use is low, which may account in part for the very high rate of motor-vehicle-related mortality in this republic. The authors discuss the need and potential for translating seat belt promotion programming from other Russian regions and other countries to Bashkortostan. The authors conclude that current policies developed in other countries could work well in the republic, if they are enforced. Meanwhile, initiatives such as the Sakhalin Road Safety Partnership offer great potential for translation in Bashkortostan as well as in other regions with similarly low seat belt use prevalence.

Adapting Smoking Cessation Programming to the Bulgarian Context

Andreeva, V. A., Sakuma, K.-L. K. — 2008-07-28

Tobacco control efforts are among Bulgaria's leading health priorities, although enforcement of policies translated from other regions is challenging due to the high national smoking prevalence, especially among health professionals and school personnel. This article reviews the sociocultural and economic background relevant to health policy change and smoking cessation initiatives. Recommendations are made for effective Bulgarian tobacco control.

Translation of Evidence-Based Tobacco Use Prevention Programming in Croatia

Skara, S., Kovacic, L., Civljak, M., Voncina, L. — 2008-07-28

Croatia faces a major threat of smoking-related health burdens given the monumental changes this newly formed country has undergone in the past 15 years because of its postcommunist democratic and economic transitions and the destructive 1991-1995 war with Serbia. This article provides information on Croatia's general background, current smoking prevalence and attitudes, and current evidence-based smoking prevention efforts. Furthermore, various cultural and contextual conditions within Croatia that facilitate or impede smoking prevention research utilization are discussed. Finally, it is concluded that new research is needed that continues to build on comprehensive research-tested multicomponent prevention initiatives utilizing school-, family-, community-, and mass media—based delivery modalities, which specifically focus on the social influences of smoking.

Toward an Understanding of and Response to Tobacco Use Among High-Risk Israeli and Palestinian Youth

Isralowitz, R., Afifi, M., Sussman, S. — 2008-07-28

Little has been done to bring Israeli and Palestinian people together to address common health problems. Because Jewish and Arab people have been in a declared and/or de facto state of war since the establishment of Israel as a nation in 1948, the possibility of Israelis and Palestinians working together to deal with a mutual problem has been bleak. This article describes efforts to link people together to address tobacco use cessation among Israeli and Palestinian high-risk youth and provides an overview of a current initiative to demonstrate a smoking cessation model, Project EX, which may contribute to the health of those involved and to societal change in the region.

Linguistic Translation of Psychological Assessment Tools: A Case Study of the MMPI-2

Nezami, E., Zamani, R., DeFrank, G. — 2008-07-28

This article examines the effect of cultural differences on translation accuracy outcomes for the translation of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—2 (S. R. Hathaway & J. C. McKinley, 1940) into Farsi for use in Iran.

Sociocultural Barriers and Malaria Health Care in Tanzania

Nsimba, S. E. D., Kayombo, E. J. — 2008-07-28

In Tanzania, since the time of its ancestors, cultural beliefs have existed which influence the treatment and management of diseases. This article focuses on malaria as a current major cause of morbidity and mortality in Tanzania. Patients and caretakers have tended to rely on traditional sociocultural practices as a means of treating the convulsions associated with severe malaria in children and often do not seek care at health facilities, therefore, delaying prompt management of the disease.

Reflections on International Translation of Evidence-Based Health Behavior Programs

Sussman, S., Palinkas, L. A. — 2008-07-28

In this concluding article, the authors describe factors that influence the international translation of programs. These include language, control over the translation process, local normative challenges to translation, program adaptation, and globalization. The authors suggest that systematic efforts at language translation, program adaptation partnership, and compromise are general principals needed to surmount these challenges.