The pitfalls of inconsistent patient-reported outcomes translations

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For years, translations of patient reported outcomes (PROs) have had inconsistencies. The way the translations are managed and the way they are published vary from practice to practicThis can cause tremendous difficulty in the pharmaceutical and medical field. Without proper information, how will patients understand what they need to live a healthy life?

Here are some of the pitfalls faced by the industry.

Inconsistent terminology

There are various ways to describe the same work. For example, if you plan to test a new translation on a small group of people to ensure accuracy and comprehension it can have two different names – “pilot testing” or “cognitive debriefing.”

It’s inconsistent verbiage like those two terms that confuses people in the pharmaceutical and medical industry. Although both cognitive debriefing and pilot testing can use a small group of people, pilot testing can also refer to testing on a larger group of people. This can have a profound impact on the meaning of a text depending on the context. In translations of PROs, this can change the meaning from language to language.

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The importance of cognitive debriefing in the medical device space

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Have you ever sat across the table from a someone whose native language was different than yours and wondered how well they understood you? Did you ask a non-English speaker a question and receive an unusual response in return?

Context and nuances lose meaning across translation. What might seem obvious in one language could mean something completely different in another.

Having a slight misunderstanding in a friendly conversation might not be a huge deal, but in your medical device marketing, it is. Misunderstandings could cost money, lose sales, and cause a host of legal problems. To avoid these catastrophes, cognitive debriefing is essential. Read more

Barriers keeping post-edited machine translation from being more widespread

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It’s a sad reality. We live in a world where instant gratification is a demand, not a luxury. When a job needs finishing, you, your project, and your clients cannot afford to wait.

In spite of the high demands for projects to get finished, wait times still exist. With only 24 hours in a day, jobs that rely on human intellect and skill are often slowed when a translator reaches capacity.

As the demand for immediate results increases, so does the technology to help companies like yours. This is certainly the case in the translation industry today.

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USCIS certified document translation: What you need to know

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Are you applying for citizenship in the United States? Or are you immigrating to America? In either case, you will need to submit specific legal documents to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). These documents cannot be submitted in your native language. They must be in English in order to receive the stamp of approval.

Submitting documents to USCIS along with your application is a worrisome time. You want to send your documents with confidence that everything is prepared correctly and in a way that’s likely to get accepted.

Here are a few things you should know before submitting certified translation documents to USCIS. Read more