ArticleJournal of general internal medicine2024
Using Voice-to-Voice Machine Translation to Overcome Language Barriers in Clinical Communication: An Exploratory Study.
Article in Journal of general internal medicine, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 21 citations in OpenAlex.
- Usability of technological tools to overcome language barriers in healthcare- a scoping review.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2025Pooled it
- A systematic review of whether the number of linguistic errors in medical interpretation is associated with the use of professional vs ad hoc interpreters.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2024Pooled it
- Google Translate Voice App vs. Qualified Interpreters: An Exploratory Study of Clinical Accuracy in Real-World Speech/Voice Encounters.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Communication Barriers in Patient-Provider Interactions in Health Care: Scoping Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- Managing Communication Challenges in Mental Health Care by Using Mobile Translation Apps: Protocol for a Simulation-Based Pilot Study.JMIR research protocols · 2026Article
- Evaluating LingualAI: a prospective validation of AI-based real-time translation against certified human interpreters.npj health systems · 2026Article
- Exploring the use of translation technologies to overcome language barriers in mental healthcare: a qualitative cross-country study.International journal for equity in health · 2026Article
- Artificial intelligence in clinical settings: a systematic review of its role in language translation and interpretation.Annals of translational medicine · 2024Review
- Economics and Equity of Large Language Models: Health Care Perspective.Journal of medical Internet research · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMachine 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.
objectivesExplore factors that may hinder or facilitate communication when using voice-to-voice MT.
designHealth 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.
participantsDoctors, 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
resultsFourteen 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.
conclusionWhile 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.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.