[Google translate is not sufficient to overcome language barriers in neonatal medicine]

Using Voice-to-Voice Machine Translation to Overcome Language Barriers in Clinical Communication: An Exploratory Study

BACKGROUND

Machine translation (MT) apps are used informally by healthcare professionals in many settings, especially where interpreters are not readily available. As MT becomes more accurate and accessible, it may be tempting to use MT more widely. Institutions and healthcare professionals need guidance on when and how these applications might be used safely and how to manage potential risks to communication.

OBJECTIVES

Explore factors that may hinder or facilitate communication when using voice-to-voice MT.

DESIGN

Health professionals volunteered to use a voice-to-voice MT app in routine encounters with their patients. Both health professionals and patients provided brief feedback on the experience, and a subset of consultations were observed.

PARTICIPANTS

Doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals working in the Primary Care Division of the Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland.

MAIN MEASURES

Achievement of consultation goals; understanding and satisfaction; willingness to use MT again; difficulties encountered; factors affecting communication when using MT.

KEY RESULTS

Fourteen health professionals conducted 60 consultations in 18 languages, using one of two voice-to-voice MT apps. Fifteen consultations were observed. Professionals achieved their consultation goals in 82.7% of consultations but were satisfied with MT communication in only 53.8%. Reasons for dissatisfaction included lack of practice with the app and difficulty understanding patients. Eighty-six percent of patients thought MT-facilitated communication was easy, and most participants were willing to use MT in the future (73% professionals, 84% patients). Experiences were more positive with European languages. Several conditions and speech practices were identified that appear to affect communication when using MT.

CONCLUSION

While professional interpreters remain the gold standard for overcoming language barriers, voice-to-voice MT may be acceptable in some clinical situations. Healthcare institutions and professionals must be attentive to potential sources of MT errors and ensure the conditions necessary for safe and effective communication. More research in natural settings is needed to inform guidelines and training on using MT in clinical communication.

The Impact of Professional Language Interpreting in Midwifery Care: A Review of the Evidence

BACKGROUND: Patients’ limited proficiency in the language of health care providers is known to be associated with health care disparities. Reluctance to use professional interpreting is documented across a wide range of health care professionals. Most of the literature on the effect of interpreting practices has focused on non-midwifery contexts.

OBJECTIVE: To review the evidence regarding how using professional interpreters impacts the midwifery care of women with limited dominant language proficiency (LDLP).

METHODS: Eligible studies were identified using searches of MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Maternity and Infant Care, then analyzed and assessed for applicability to midwifery.

RESULTS: 40 eligible papers, and two systematic reviews containing 48 additional papers, were included. The use of professional interpreters was found to support all aspects of the midwife’s direct role, with some complex findings on woman-centered communication during interpreted encounters. The use of ad hoc interpreters, or no interpreting, undermines all aspects of midwifery care for women with LDLP.

IMPLICATIONS: Midwifery care should be enhanced by increasing midwives’ use of professional interpreters; future research should consider how best to achieve this or investigate the comparative efficacy of more complex interventions, such as interpreter-doulas.

Technological Devices Improving System of Translating Languages: What About their Usefulness on the Applicability in Medicine and Health Sciences?

INTRODUCTION

In a world in which global communication is becoming ever more important and in which English is increasingly positioned as the pre-eminent international language, that is, English as a Lingua Franca refers to the use of English as a medium of communication between peoples of different languages. It is important to highlight the positive advances in communication in health, provided by technology.

OBJECTIVE

To present an overview on some technological devices of translating languages provided by the Web as well as to point out some advantages and disadvantages specially using Google Translate in Medicine and Health Sciences.

METHODS

A bibliographical survey was performed to provide an overview on the usefulness of online translators for applicability using written and spoken languages.

RESULTS

As we have to consider this question to be further surely answered, this study could present some advantages and disadvantages in using translating online devices.

CONCLUSION

Considering Medicine and Health Sciences as expressive into the human scientific knowledge to be spread worldwidely; technological devices available on communication should be used to overcome some language barriers either written or spoken, but with some caution depending on the context of their applicability.