Translations

We would welcome the opportunity to make SPIRIT available in different languages. The purpose of our translation policy is to ensure that the translation of any SPIRIT document (i.e., SPIRIT Statement, SPIRIT Explanation & Elaboration, SPIRIT checklist, figure) accurately reflects the collaborative expertise of the SPIRIT Group. The SPIRIT Group only endorses official translations of the SPIRIT documents that have followed our translation policy.

Official SPIRIT translations must meet the following criteria:

• The most up-to-date version of the SPIRIT document is used;
• Translation is conducted in collaboration with the SPIRIT Group, adhering to the steps described below;
• The original SPIRIT authors will maintain primary authorship, and if published, translators will follow the authorship policy of the journal.

Steps for translation:

Step 1: Contact the SPIRIT Group chair and select the SPIRIT documents that you wish to translate: SPIRIT 2013 Statement, SPIRIT Explanation & Elaboration, SPIRIT checklist and figure.

Step 2: Complete a draft of the translation using the most up-to-date document found here on SPIRIT website.

Step 3: Obtain a back-translation of the draft to English, carried out by an independent person who was not involved with Step 2 and who is fluent with scientific terminology in both English and the selected language.

Step 4: Send back-translated SPIRIT document to the SPIRIT Group chair for review. We will identify any differences between the back-translation and the original English publication, and will send you this feedback. (Please note: it is important that the translation be as close to the English version as possible, since the original wording was carefully chosen by the SPIRIT Group).

Step 5: If necessary, revise translated document based on feedback from the SPIRIT Group. Repeat Steps 3-5 until final approval is obtained from the SPIRIT Group chair, which may entail multiple iterations to ensure that wording of the translation is as accurate as possible.

Step 6: Disseminate the final translation approved by the SPIRIT Group. Official translations will be announced and posted on the SPIRIT website. We encourage translators to also seek publication in an open-access journal. While SPIRIT authors will retain primary authorship on the translated document, translators will be listed in the acknowledgements section of the article. Translators can also be listed on the secondary author byline where permitted by journals (i.e., under the author line state “Translated by xxx”). Translators are encouraged to write an accompanying editorial, which may be done in collaboration with one or more SPIRIT Group members, if desired.