Background Searching for studies to include in a systematic review (SR) is a time- and labor-intensive process with searches of multiple databases recommended. To reduce the time spent translating search strings across databases, a tool called the Polyglot Search Translator (PST) was developed. The authors evaluated whether using the PST as a search translation aid reduces the time required to translate search strings without increasing errors. Methods In a randomized trial, twenty participants were randomly allocated ten database search strings and then randomly assigned to translate five with the assistance of the PST (PST-A method) and five without the assistance of the PST (manual method). We compared the time taken to translate search strings, the number of errors made, and how close the number of references retrieved by a translated search was to the number retrieved by a reference standard translation. Results Sixteen participants performed 174 translations using the PST-A method and 192 translations using the manual method. The mean time taken to translate a search string with the PST-A method was 31 minutes versus 45 minutes by the manual method (mean difference: 14 minutes). The mean number of errors made per translation by the PST-A method was 8.6 versus 14.6 by the manual method. Large variation in the number of references retrieved makes results for this outcome inconclusive, although the number of references retrieved by the PST-A method was closer to the reference standard translation than the manual method. Conclusion When used to assist with translating search strings across databases, the PST can increase the speed of translation without increasing errors. Errors in search translations can still be a problem, and search specialists should be aware of this.

中文翻译：

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使用多语言搜索翻译器改进搜索策略的翻译：一项随机对照试验

背景 搜索纳入系统评价 (SR) 的研究是一个耗时耗力的过程，建议搜索多个数据库。为了减少跨数据库翻译搜索字符串所花费的时间，开发了一种名为 Polyglot Search Translator (PST) 的工具。作者评估了使用 PST 作为搜索翻译辅助工具是否可以在不增加错误的情况下减少翻译搜索字符串所需的时间。方法 在一项随机试验中，20 名参与者被随机分配了 10 个数据库搜索字符串，然后随机分配在 PST（PST-A 方法）的帮助下翻译 5 名，在没有 PST（手动方法）帮助的情况下翻译 5 名。我们比较了翻译搜索字符串所花费的时间、所犯错误的数量、以及翻译搜索检索到的参考文献数量与参考标准翻译检索到的参考文献数量的接近程度。结果 16 名参与者使用 PST-A 方法进行了 174 次翻译，使用手动方法进行了 192 次翻译。使用 PST-A 方法翻译搜索字符串所需的平均时间为 31 分钟，而手动方法为 45 分钟（平均差异：14 分钟）。PST-A 方法每次翻译的平均错误数为 8.6，而手动方法为 14.6。尽管 PST-A 方法检索到的参考文献数量比手动方法更接近参考标准翻译，但检索到的参考文献数量的巨大差异使得该结果的结果不确定。结论 当用于帮助翻译跨数据库的搜索字符串时，PST 可以在不增加错误的情况下提高翻译速度。搜索翻译中的错误仍然是一个问题，搜索专家应该意识到这一点。