Section Editor: Ana Sofia Correia

Guidelines for quality translation of patient information materials from English to Russian

Author: Ekaterina Chashnikova

 Accurate and accessible translation of patient materials can have a considerable impact on health outcomes, especially in settings where the official country language differs from the patient’s native language. Translations also play a crucial role in patient and caregiver education in the context of rare diseases, where materials in the native language may be limited. This article discusses existing requirements for patient-oriented texts and looks into the current plain language recommendations for Russian. The second part of the article features multiple excerpts from real-life English-to-Russian translations of patient-oriented materials and discusses suggested edits that facilitate the patient’s understanding of the text.

Medical Writing. 2025;34(3):108–113. https://doi.org/10.56012/ejmo5136