Overview of Clinical Language Translation
Have you ever received a medical document or explanation from your doctor and felt confused by the medical jargon? You're not alone. Medical professionals often use technical language in their documentation, which can be difficult for patients and laypeople to understand. However, advancements in technology and the rise of clinical language translation has made it easier to translate these specialized medical texts into plain, understandable language for all.
What is Clinical Language Translation?
Clinical language translation is the process of transforming medical documents, definitions, and explanations into simplified and understandable language. This is important because it helps patients comprehend their medical information, improving their ability to make informed decisions regarding their health. This process entails several techniques, such as simplifying complex medical jargon, using clear and concise language, and providing easy-to-understand explanations.
The Importance of Clinical Language Translation
Clinical language translation has made a significant impact in the healthcare industry by addressing communication barriers between patients and healthcare providers. It ensures that patients understand their condition, treatments, and potential risks, leading to better compliance, engagement, and trust in their care. The improved level of understanding also facilitates the patient's decision-making process and their ability to participate in shared decision-making with their healthcare providers.
About 90 million American adults have low health literacy levels, causing them to have difficulty interpreting and using medical information. This leads to poorer health outcomes, unnecessary healthcare usage, and increased healthcare costs. Clinical language translation can address this issue by providing patients with essential medical information using easy-to-understand language and explanations.
Technologies Used in Clinical Language Translation
Clinical language translation employs various technologies and techniques to simplify medical language, thereby making it easy to understand. Some of these technologies include:
Machine Translation
Machine translation (MT) is one of the most popular techniques used in clinical language translation. It refers to the utilization of computer programs to translate medical text from one language to another, simplifying complex terminology and improving the accuracy of the translation. These programs use algorithms, which analyze linguistic patterns and technical terms to produce accurate translations, with Natural Language Processing (NLP) helping to improve the overall effectiveness of MT.
Glossaries and Dictionaries
A glossary or dictionary is a tool that defines and explains technical words and phrases. Medical glossaries, which contain plain language definitions of medical terminologies, can be used to simplify clinical language in medical documents. They also serve as reference materials for MT programs.
Translation Management Systems (TMS)
A translation management system is an organizational tool that helps manage the translation workflow of documents. TMS helps manage the localization of medical documents accurately and quickly. It ensures that the medical document is translated and reviewed by several translators before it is delivered to the client.
The Future of Clinical Language Translation
Clinical language translation is an ever-growing field, with many private companies and institutions developing new ways to simplify medical language. Currently, various mobile applications are available that make it quick and easy for anyone to translate and understand medical documents. These apps use machine learning and artificial intelligence to improve their precision, speed, and overall functionality.
Moreover, the advancement of NLP has proven to be a significant breakthrough in the translation of clinical language. It assists MT programs in identifying and translating idiomatic expressions that can be difficult to understand for non-native speakers.
Clinical language translation is an essential practice that can benefit both patients and healthcare providers. It helps patients overcome barriers associated with low health literacy, ensuring they receive accurate and understandable medical information, ultimately improving their health outcomes. As technology continues to advance, so will clinical language translation, making it easier for healthcare professionals to communicate effectively with patients and provide better care overall.