​​BC Renal is well-known for producing high-quality resources for people living with kidney​ disease and now, thanks to a collaboration initiated by partners in New Brunswick, is in the process of having its evidence-based nutrition and diet resources translated into French. As a result, francophone renal dietitians and patients around the world will benefit.  

Michelle DesRoches is a renal dietitian with New Brunswick's Vitalité Health Network, the province's health authority for its francophone population. After a 30+ year career working in dietetics, diabetes and now nephrology​, she is all too familiar with the importance of diet. “What we eat and drink really has a direct impact on our health, and is crucial for people living with kidney disease," she emphasizes. 

Since BC Renal first launched its diet and nutrition resources – handouts, videos and other tools – in the early 2000s, Michelle has been translating the content for her patients in one-on-one sessions. The BC Renal resources are particularly good because they rely on the current best practices guidelines, Michelle notes, adding, “The dietitians who are part of the BC Renal network aren't having resources added to the website and forgetting about it. They are regularly managing it. There's a whole framework around it." 

But translating the resources for individual patients was cumbersome, prompting Michelle to reach out to BC Renal staff with a proposal to utilize translation services from the Vitalité Health Network to help translate the resources into French. 

The timing of this translation of reliable dietary resources is particularly important now, as inaccuracies associated with AI as well as human-generated misinformation have all increased significantly in recent years, across many sectors of society including health care. 
 ​​ 
A mutual partnership 

To begin translating the documents, Michelle connected with Dani Renouf, who is a renal resource dietitian with Providence Health Care in Vancouver, chair of the BCR Dietitians' Practice Group, and a leader in overseeing materials produced for more than 90 renal dietitians who work with kidney patients across the province. 
 
Traditionally, BC Renal resources have been available in English, and when possible, translated to Traditional Chinese, Punjabi and other Asian languages for British Columbia's largest language groups.  

But now with the new partnership with Vitalité, the New Brunswick team has begun to translate BC Renal's most commonly used dietary handouts into French. Starting with Potassium Management in Kidney Disease, Healthy Eating for Your Kidneys and Protein and Kidney Health, they are continuing with additional handouts. 
 
Potential for global impact 
 
Michelle knows the new resources will benefit other Canadians across the country as well, saying, “There are lots of pockets of francophone speaking individuals across the country who will appreciate these handouts."  

She says she knows of renal dietitians in France who are already using BC Renal resources and will really appreciate them being available in French, and she has ideas for sharing the translated resources by word of mouth with other international colleagues.  
 
Dani agrees francophone populations around the world, including in developing countries, will be able to benefit: “This collaboration not only expands BC Renal's multi-lingual resources for British Columbians, but also has the potential to make a difference for populations around the world." 
 
Notably, the project hasn't required any new funding as staff with both health organizations are able to include the work in their regular responsibilities. 
 
“It's a great example of reciprocity," says Dani. “I love this kind of stuff because there's no budget or money changing hands. It's really skill for skill." 
 
Michelle adds, “I'm excited for the partnership with BC Renal as it will ensure access to nutrition and diet resources in French to all Canadians, and French-speaking populations around the globe. These resources are really the gold standard for nephrology nutrition. Increasing their reach is extraordinary."  

BC Renal diet and nutrition resources: BCRenal.ca > Health Info > Managing My Care > Diet ​