title: A survey for the need of translational aids among Canadian ophthalmologists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To conduct a needs assessment survey of Canadian ophthalmologists to determine whether there is a requirement for translational aids in ophthalmology, and if so, the content, format, and languages to include.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anonymous voluntary online needs assessment questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 139 ophthalmologists completed the online needs assessment questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  An anonymous voluntary online survey in English and French was distributed to 700 active members (practicing Canadian ophthalmologists) of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society. Data were collected regarding the potential utility of translational aids, as well as the contents and languages that should be included if such aids were to be created. Level of support for translational aids, as well as the contents and languages of potential translational aids, was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey response rate was 19.9% (139/700). The majority of the respondents (130/139, 93.5%) have encountered difficulty in communicating with patients because of language barrier, and 88.5% (123/139) would benefit from having a list of ophthalmologic terms translated into several of Canada's most popular languages. The top 10 languages that the respondents indicated would be most beneficial are (in descending order): Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, Punjabi, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Greek, Cree, and Vietnamese. The survey responses provided a comprehensive list of the most useful ophthalmologic symptoms, instructions to patients, and diagnoses to be translated. Most respondents (120/139, 86.3%) believed that having basic information pamphlets on specific ocular conditions translated into several languages would benefit their practice; the top 3 conditions were cataract, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. Producing the translational aids in both paper and electronic format was found to be the most favoured (89/139, 64.0%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Canadian ophthalmologists believe they would benefit from translational aids. The results of this survey provide a framework for the creation of such aids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Queen's University.
authors.forename: Zale D
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Mednick
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Toronto; Kensington Eye Institute, Toronto, Ont.
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Toronto; Kensington Eye Institute, Toronto, Ont.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Braga-Mele
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003469:Culture; D006306:Health Surveys; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014175:Translating