The core of medical practice is patient communication and healthcare. However, linguistic problems make it challenging to communicate with patients from other countries. According to the FY2022 Basic Survey on Foreign Residents, more than half of all foreign residents (52.8%) requested linguistic support when obtaining medical care. According to a recent study, inaccurate communication between patients and medical personnel could be harmful to both groups. Moreover, it's been seen that communication issues can hinder doctors' good discussion with their patients, even in prescribing. Medical interpreters work in many places, like health centers, private companies, and help groups. Whether face-to-face or on the web, these interpreters are there to work with doctors in hospitals. They built interaction between health workers and patients from other countries. Skilled medical interpreters are very important in bridging gaps in health care. The work of medical interpreters and translators is very important as it aids patients who don't speak the majority of the language. Though often mistaken, they play very different but equally important roles in protecting patient safety. This article discusses the importance of both, their differences, and what healthcare practitioners, policymakers, and patients should know about this crucial action (Ono & Yang, 2024).
Medical Interpretation
Medical interpretation is the process of translating spoken or signed language in real time to facilitate discussions about diagnosis, treatment choices, procedures, directions for at-home care, and other medical-related topics.
Medical Translation
The task of translating written content and medical papers from one language to another belongs to a medical translator. To correctly translate papers and guarantee accuracy, medical translators need to have a high degree of linguistic skill.
Communication Barriers and Their Outcomes:
A 12-year-old girl with cancer, other medical comorbidities, and limited English proficiency was referred to me for a consultation as part of the psychiatry consultation-liaison service at a children's hospital. The main hematology-oncology team was worried about aggressive and opportunistic behaviors interfering with appropriate medical treatment. After going over the case and conducting behavioral analysis on a number of significant incidents when the patient became aggressive or otherwise unmanageable, it was found that staff members frequently failed to use medical interpreter services. For instance, a phlebotomist was seen going into the patient's room and trying to take their blood without saying anything to them. The recipient's behavior improved after implementing a behavioral plan and increasing the use of medical interpreters. Data suggest that professional medical interpreters are not properly utilized in the health care sector, and several hurdles to optimal utilization have been determined, including a lack of time and access to interpreters. Furthermore, alternatives to on-site interpreters, such as telephone and video interpreters, have various limitations (e.g., lack of nonverbal expression, less focus on cultural differences).
Communication Obstacles can cause a range of issues, including aggression, obstacles to care, lack of informed consent, and avoidance of the healthcare system, among other negative consequences. In contrast, studies have indicated that using an interpreter.
● Increases patient satisfaction, reduces unfavorable outcomes, and improves adherence and positive results
● Patients with poor English proficiency have indicated a preference for trained interpreters over multilingual family members and friends.
● Interpreters often serve as cultural bridges between patients and medical staff in addition to offering precise and knowledgeable language interpretation.
● However, because medical interpreters are not properly certified, there are restrictions to the services of interpreters, including differences in competency level.
Future initiatives to improve interpreter services should focus on implementing a standardized certification process and recruiting to increase the number of available in-person interpreters in the health care system (Beilfuss et al., 2023).
Figure 1. Elements of medical interpretation and patient communication (Ono & Yang, 2024)
Regulation adherence is still a top priority for the healthcare industry as it grows globally. Due to the worldwide availability of health products and services, legal considerations are critical. Medical documentation must be carefully translated, especially in the European Union, where national language translation is essential. Medical translation plays a role in both clinical practice and public health policy, helping to enforce new international rules. As a result, one of the primary objectives of medical translation is to utilize the study findings in improving clinical practice and public health policy is crucial for providing great healthcare(Al-Smadi, 2022).
The Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification system identifies four major areas of medical translation need, which can be considered separately or together. The following figure illustrates research areas:
Figure 2. Scope of Medical translation (Mihai, YEAR IV, NO. 1/2 0 21)
The following content could be identified for translation in the medical field:
● Scientific papers and books.
● Documenting medicines, medications, vaccinations, healthcare services, and clinical trials.
● Technical standards for medical devices and equipment, such as ISO 13485.
Translation plays a crucial role in the quality system of medical devices, including management of translation requirements. Other factors to consider include regulatory standards and advertising materials.
Positively, Flores states that the medical translator's assistance is crucial and that the effect of medical translation may be quantified in terms of
● Effective communication (which leads to the patients' overall accurate comprehension).
● Ensure patient satisfaction with comprehensive care, including information, diagnosis, and treatment (translation as a safety net).
● Improved access to health care through timely availability and translation of necessary documentation.
Negatively, we draw attention to "the irreversible cost of medical translation." The actual effect of a poorly done translation "is on the lives of the patients. This raises concerns about medical translators' training, as it can lead to life-changing issues and even death. Errors in translation affect both users and patients receiving healthcare services. We provide an example of incorrect translation of an instruction manual for implanted knee prostheses. The incident occurred in a Berlin hospital and included 47 patients. The original text read "nonmodular cemented prostheses." However, they translated it as "prostheses that do not require cement." The surgical instrument was inserted without cement, leading to increased agony and suffering for the patients (Mihai, YEAR IV, NO. 1/2 0 21).
Figure 3. Improved outcomes of the the medical translation (Mihai, YEAR IV, NO. 1/2 0 21)
Our specialty at Willingjet Life Sciences is translating and localizing sensitive material to guarantee linguistic accuracy and regulatory compatibility in more than 100 languages. While keeping complete compliance, we help pharma, biotech, and CRO customers in offering safe, efficient solutions to patients all over. Language clarity throughout texts is not optional. It is essential for Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and global health equity. Errors in language used in medical settings can be fatal. Imagine missing a diagnosis because an interpreter misinterpreted your symptoms or receiving the incorrect prescription due to a mistranslated instruction. These are not only careless mistakes; they put lives at risk. Although Title VI of the Civil Rights Act mandates that healthcare facilities receiving government funds in the United States offers linguistic help; not all of them do so. Although AI apps and other tech tools like Google Translate are useful, they cannot take the place of qualified experts. Machines simply cannot capture the emotion, its proper context, and cultural details of language. "I'm burning up" refers to a fever, not spontaneous combustion, as any human interpreter would know!
Medical interpreters are essential in the healthcare system because they help patients and healthcare workers overcome language and cultural barriers. A doctor's instructions could be translated verbatim by software, but this would eliminate the personalization needed to convey instructions and crises and show empathy for the patient. Google Translate and similar tools don't observe perplexed looks, hear the distress in people's voices, or inquire if there are any more inquiries, in contrast to qualified interpreters. A qualified medical translator is equipped to handle these cultural quirks, guaranteeing that patients receive treatment that satisfies medical requirements while honoring their cultural preferences. Based on translated information, healthcare personnel can make more accurate diagnoses (Beilfuss et al., 2023).
In order to communicate information and new findings in the medical area throughout the world, translation is essential.. A deep comprehension of the source and target languages, the translation process, and the surrounding culture are all necessary. An interpreter increases patient satisfaction, reduces unfavorable outcomes, and enhances adherence and positive results. Although interpretation and translation in healthcare come with their own challenges. This matters for all, from people new to the country to visitors to even locals who can't read well. Each time a medicine label is read or an ER talk is understood, a person feels safe and listened to and can heal faster.
At Willingjet Life Sciences, we are glad to achieve this goal by giving good, rule-following medical help in words that help pharma leaders, life science groups, and the overall health sector.Let's keep working to make sure every patient can speak up and find the help they need.
Al-Smadi, H. M. (2022). Challenges in translating scientific texts: Problems and reasons. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 13(3), 550–560. https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.1303.11
Beilfuss, A., Zablock, K., Lowenstein, J., Goodsell, A., Rodriguez, J., & Varejão, I. (2023). The importance of interpreters in the medical system. University of Michigan Undergraduate Research Journal, 16(0). https://doi.org/10.3998/umurj.3783
Mihai, R. R. (YEAR IV, NO. 1/2 0 21). COVERAGE OF MEDICAL TRANSLATION AND EMPOWERMENT OF MEDICAL TRANSLATORS.
Ono, N., & Yang, J. (2024). Communication skills of medical interpreters: A qualitative explanatory study of healthcare professionals’ and medical interpreters’ perceptions. Healthcare, 12(20), 2073. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12202073
EN 
cn 
de 
jp 
