Adapting and translating the ‘Hep B Story’ App the right way: A transferable toolkit to develop health resources with, and for, Aboriginal people

Abstract

Issue AddressedIn 2014 the ‘Hep B Story App’, the first hepatitis B educational app in an Aboriginal language was released. Subsequently, in 2018, it was assessed and adapted before translation into an additional 10 Aboriginal languages. The translation process developed iteratively into a model that may be applied when creating any health resource in Aboriginal languages.MethodsThe adaptation and translation of the ‘Hep B Story’ followed a tailored participatory action research (PAR) process involving crucial steps such as extensive community consultation, adaptation of the original material, forward and back translation of the script, content accuracy verification, voiceover recording, and thorough review before the publication of the new version.ResultsIterative PAR cycles shaped the translation process, leading to a refined model applicable to creating health resources in any Aboriginal language. The community‐wide consultation yielded widespread chronic hepatitis B education, prompting participants to share the story within their families, advocating for hepatitis B check‐ups. The project offered numerous insights and lessons, such as the significance of allocating sufficient time and resources to undertake the process. Additionally, it highlighted the importance of implementing flexible work arrangements and eliminating barriers to work for the translators.ConclusionsThrough our extensive work across the Northern Territory, we produced an educational tool for Aboriginal people in their preferred languages and developed a translation model to create resources for different cultural and linguistic groups.So What?This translation model provides a rigorous, transferable method for creating accurate health resources for culturally and linguistically diverse populations.

Evaluating a novel model of hepatitis B care, Hep B PAST, in the Northern Territory of Australia: results from a prospective, population-based study

“…Success factors include: systematic data organisation, 17 regular CQI cycles, a hub and spoke model of care, a trained First Nations and PHC health workforce, 19 , 20 dedicated staffing, outreach access to diagnostic technology and in-language consumer health resources. 22 The Hep B PAST program consists of a diverse, multidisciplinary team that includes researchers, epidemiologists, public health experts, lab scientists, clinical doctors, nurses, Aboriginal health workers, and people living with CHB. This collaborative approach, coupled with a culture of true partnerships and flattened hierarchies, has been key to its success.…”

“…Delivery of CHB care in PHC clinical care teams was implemented through systematic care planning, PHC workforce education, 19 , 20 CHB identified positions embedded in PHC, availability of ultrasound and FibroScan®, support by the specialist outreach teams 21 and culturally appropriate in-language consumer resources. 22 We have previously reported that having an educational tool in a person's first language is crucial to developing treatment partnerships for First Nations peoples living with CHB. 23 The “Hep B Story” app is available in nine Aboriginal languages, covering 70% of NT First Nations peoples in their first languages.…”

An evaluation and refinement of the “Hep B Story” app, tailored to meet the community’s cultural needs

“…A straightforward word-for-word translation of a script risks misinformation and loss of context and meaning. Ensuring accurate conceptual transmission often entailed crafting and sharing stories to convey the message correctly [11].…”

“…It has a disproportionate impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, with prevalence of 6% [4][5][6][7]. While socioeconomic factors, healthcare access, and language barriers can present challenges [8], recent research shows that communityled, systematic approaches to CHB management improve the cascade of care in Aboriginal communities [9][10][11][12]. Early diagnosis through effective clinical management is crucial in mitigating the risk of liver cancer and associated mortality in people living with CHB [13].…”