Month: March 2024

A Guide to Machine Translation Post-Editing (MTPE)

Posted on by Piedmont Global Marketing

In today’s AI landscape, Machine Translation (MT) stands out as a tool for rapid translations in numerous language pairs, thanks to sophisticated algorithms and linguistic databases.

While it improves speed and cost-effectiveness, raw machine translation still struggles to grasp the finer cultural nuances of human translations. There is still progress to be made before it reaches parity with human translators.

This is where Machine Translation Post-Editing (MTPE) comes in. MTPE combines the speed of machine translation with human expertise to refine translations. Human editors add cultural insights, adjust for context, and ensure quality, making the translations more accurate and effective.

Before delving deeper into Machine Translation Post- Editing, it’s essential to clarify some key terms.

What is Machine Translation?

According to AWS, machine translation is the automated process of translating text from one language to another using artificial intelligence, thus eliminating the need for human involvement. It leverages natural language processing and deep learning to comprehend the meaning of a given text and translate it into different languages.

There are three main types of machine translation:

Rules-Based Machine Translation: Utilizes built-in linguistic rules and bilingual dictionaries for specific industries or topics to translate content. It is the oldest form of machine translation and also the least accurate.

Statistical Machine Translation: Employs machine learning to analyze large collections of pre-existing human translations to identify statistical patterns. Subsequently, it makes informed predictions regarding the statistical likelihood of certain words or phrases being associated with others in the target language.

Neural Net Machine Translation (NMT): Leverages artificial intelligence to learn languages and continually enhance its understanding. This type of machine translation excels when provided with context, often beyond the confines of a single sentence. The output quality significantly improves because the translation is performed on entire paragraphs rather than isolated sentences. This approach enables NMT systems to address many limitations of other methods and produce higher-quality translations.

At Piedmont Global, we have the capability to train our machine translation (MT) engines with industry and client-specific glossaries to help it better understand and utilize specific words or phrases unique to that field. Furthermore, we incorporate content from the client’s translation memory (TM) before initiating machine translation for low-fuzzy matches or new translation units. A translation memory is a database that stores previously translated phrases and sentences.

When a new document is ready for translation, our Computer Assisted Translation (CAT) tool refers to the TM to find and utilize translations that bear similarity to those in the new document. This unique feature sets our service apart from publicly-available machine translation engines, thereby ensuring faster, consistent, and more accurate translations.

Limitations of Raw Machine Translation

Despite technological advancements, raw machine translation is limited in its ability to accurately grasp context, idiomatic expressions, and cultural nuances. Moreover, reliance on third-party servers for processing often raises privacy and security concerns, especially when sensitive information is involved. Machine translation performance also deteriorates for low-resource languages, where less training data is available to ensure accurate translations.

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has provided its perspective on machine translation in Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. It outlines when and how machine translation may be used in healthcare communications.

“While the technology behind machine translation has improved in accuracy, the possibilities of significant consequences from inaccurate translation continue to exist. All studies indicated error rates so high as to be ‘unacceptable for actual deployment in health settings.”

Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)

Healthcare providers must adhere to stringent HIPAA requirements to ensure patient privacy and regulatory compliance. These regulations include strict guidelines for the handling, disclosure, and transmission of Protected Health Information (PHI). PHI includes details about an individual’s health, healthcare provisions, and payments, all of which can be traced back to them.

Not only do third-party machine translation systems lack robust security measures to prevent data breaches and unauthorized access, but the lack of human translation also compromises the accuracy and reliability of translated content.

What is Machine Translation Post-Editing?

Machine Translation Post-Editing involves the careful review and refinement of machine-translated text to improve its accuracy and coherence. By combining the rapid processing capabilities of machine translation with the linguistic proficiency and domain knowledge of human translators, MTPE ensures higher quality translations.

How Does Machine Translation Post-Editing Work?

Once the machine translation engine generates the translated text, a human translator, also known as a post-editor, reviews and refines the output. The aim is to correct any errors, improve coherence, and elevate the overall quality of the translation.

The post-editor carefully compares the machine-generated translation with the original source text, making necessary adjustments to ensure accuracy, fluency, and adherence to specific style or terminology requirements.

Benefits of Machine Translation Post-Editing

Efficiency: MTPE combines the speed and scalability of machine translation with the accuracy and fluency provided by human post-editors. This allows for the quick processing of large volumes of content while ensuring high-quality translations.

Cost-efficiency: By leveraging machine translation for the initial translation process and human post-editing for refinement, MTPE can be more cost-effective compared to traditional human-only translation services, especially for large projects.

Quality assurance: Human post-editors review and improve machine-translated content, ensuring that translations are accurate, coherent, and culturally appropriate for the target audience.

Faster turnaround times: With MTPE, translations can be delivered more quickly compared to human-only translation services, making it ideal for projects with tight deadlines.

Get Started with Piedmont Global

Piedmont Global provides high-quality and idiomatic translations in nearly any document format, and in more than 200 languages and regional varieties. All of our document translations are completed by professional, qualified translators and editors, all of whom have gone through our rigorous recruitment and vetting process.

All translation projects are managed by our team of expert, multilingual Project Managers and go through our complete, multi-step Quality Control Process to ensure that you receive an accurate and idiomatically appropriate translation. Get in touch with our team to learn more

A Guide to Interpretation Services and Modalities

Posted on by Piedmont Global Marketing

As businesses expand globally, healthcare strives for better care outcomes, and educational institutions welcome international students, the demand for professional interpretation services continues to grow. The ability to bridge language gaps is paramount in ensuring accessibility, inclusivity, and quality of service.

By embracing a range of interpretation modalities, organizations can create inclusive communication ecosystems that transcend geographical boundaries and linguistic barriers. In this guide, we delve into three key modalities of interpretation: On-Site (OSI), Over-the-Phone (OPI), and Video Remote Interpreting (VRI). Each method offers unique benefits and applications, catering to different scenarios, industries, and preferences.

Over-the-Phone Interpreting Services

What is Over-the-Phone Interpreting?

Over-the-Phone Interpreting (OPI), or telephone interpreting, allows individuals speaking different languages to communicate through a three-way telephone call. In situations where face-to-face interpreters may not be readily available or practical, OPI offers a quick solution. This immediacy is particularly valuable in emergencies or time-sensitive matters where every second counts.

How Does it Work?

A client seeking interpretation services contacts a Language Services Provider (LSP) offering OPI. The LSP then arranges a three-way conference call involving the client, the interpreter, and the customer or patient needing interpretation. During the call, the interpreter listens to the conversation in one language and interprets it in the target language, ensuring accurate communication between the parties. Once the interaction concludes, the call ends and the interpreting session concludes.

Benefits of Over-the-Phone Interpreting

Easy accessibility: OPI can be integrated into existing call channels so that clients can access interpretation services without navigating a separate system or undergoing additional steps. Instead, they can request interpretation assistance during a regular phone call, and the interpreter can join the conversation seamlessly.

24/7 Availability: OPI services are available at all times, which is especially helpful in emergencies or industries with unconventional working hours. Furthermore, managing time zones can be challenging when dealing with international clients. OPI offers the convenience of round-the-clock interpreting services that accommodate various schedules and time zones.

Cost-Effectiveness: OPI services are billed per minute, unlike traditional face-to-face interpretation which may include additional expenses such as travel and accommodation costs. With telephone interpreting, you only pay for the duration of the call, making it a more cost-effective option.

Flexible and scalable: Whether handling occasional requests for interpretation or managing high call volumes during peak times, OPI services can adapt to fluctuating demand and serve diverse linguistic communities effectively.

Industries That Use Over-the-Phone Interpreting

Clinical Trials: Over-the-phone interpretation plays a vital role in clinical trials, especially when researchers need to communicate with participants from racial and ethnic minorities. For example, a researcher might utilize an interpreter to explain trial procedures to a Spanish-speaking participant via telephone.

Energy: In the energy sector, over-the-phone interpreting can be useful for international business calls or remote troubleshooting of technical issues. For example, an engineer in a power plant might need to discuss a technical problem with experts from a different country.

Consumer goods: Companies catering to an international clientele utilize phone interpretation to offer multilingual customer support. By facilitating communication with customers in their chosen language, businesses can boost customer satisfaction and loyalty.

On-Site Interpreting Services

What is On-Site Interpreting?

In certain situations, having a professional interpreter physically present is essential. On-Site Interpreting, or in-person interpretation, entails a professional interpreter being physically present at a specific location to aid communication between individuals speaking different languages. Unlike remote interpretation methods, on-site interpreters are physically present in the same room or space as the parties involved in the interaction.

How Does it Work?

The interpreter travels to the location where the interpretation is needed, such as a meeting, conference, medical appointment, legal proceeding, or other relevant settings. Once at the location, the interpreter positions themselves close to the parties involved in the conversation. When one party speaks, the interpreter listens carefully and then conveys the message accurately and impartially in the target language to the other party. Once the conversation or event concludes, the interpreter may provide any necessary summaries or follow-up information before departing from the location.

Benefits of On-Site Interpreting

Accurate Communication: In-person interpreters can directly observe facial expressions, body language, and other non-verbal cues, allowing them to better understand and accurately convey the intended message between parties. They can also better observe and respond to cultural nuances, social dynamics, and sensory cues that may impact communication, ensuring that all parties feel respected and understood.

Flexibility and Adaptability: On-site interpreters can adapt their interpreting style and approach based on the context, participants, and dynamics of the interaction. They can switch between consecutive and simultaneous interpretation modes as needed, or adjust their position, tone, and mannerisms to accommodate changing needs or preferences during the interaction.

Facilitates Building Relationships: In-person interpreting allows for more natural and authentic communication. Being physically present in the same room as the participants allows on-site interpreters to establish a personal connection, build trust, and foster rapport between parties.

Technical Reliability: On-site interpreting does not rely on internet connectivity or technical infrastructure, making it more reliable in situations where internet access may be limited or unreliable.

Industries That Use On-Site Interpreting

Legal: Legal proceedings require precise interpretation to ensure fairness and accuracy. On-site interpreters are often necessary for court hearings, depositions, or client consultations. For example, a law firm represents a client who speaks a language other than the official court language. On-site interpreters assist during depositions to ensure the client’s testimony is accurately understood.

Government: Government agencies often utilize on-site interpreters to serve linguistically diverse populations, especially in areas such as social services, immigration, and law enforcement. On-site interpreters may assist with interviews and interactions between government officials and individuals who require language support.

Manufacturing: Effective communication is crucial for quality control, training, and coordinating production processes. On-site interpreters can support meetings, training sessions, or technical discussions on the factory floor.

Education: In educational settings, interpreters are crucial for events like parent-teacher meetings. On-site interpreters ensure clear communication, bridging language gaps between teachers and non-native English-speaking parents.

Video Remote Interpreting Services

What is Video Remote Interpreting?

Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) involves a professional interpreter providing language assistance remotely via a video connection. VRI combines the personalization of on-site interpretation with the convenience of on-demand over-the-phone interpretation (OPI). It is an interpretation modality that ensures fluid communication across signed and spoken languages.

How Does it Work?

Video Remote Interpretation provides remote access to professional interpreters via a dedicated and secure video conferencing platform. Clients can easily connect with interpreters alongside their customers or patients over the internet using computers, smartphones, or tablets. Once connected, the interpreter attentively listens to the speaker and translates their message into the preferred language.

Benefits of Video Remote Interpreting

Versatility: VRI provides support for both signed and spoken language, ensuring inclusivity for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Its remote accessibility, along with features such as document sharing, enhances communication flexibility.

Convenience: VRI eliminates the need for interpreters to be physically present on-site, saving time and resources for both interpreters and clients. This convenience is particularly valuable when access to qualified interpreters might be limited, especially in rural or remote areas.

Enhanced Communication: VRI enables real-time visual communication between parties, which can enhance understanding and rapport compared to audio-only interpreting methods. American Sign Language (ASL) is a signed language that relies on handshapes, facial expressions, and body movements to convey meaning. These contextual and visual cues are easier to notice on VRI to facilitate more effective communication.

Industries That Use Video Remote Interpreting

Technology: A software development team working with overseas developers could leverage VRI for meetings, code reviews, and troubleshooting sessions, ensuring seamless communication across borders.

Healthcare: As telemedicine becomes increasingly prevalent, Video Remote Interpretation assumes a pivotal role in delivering remote healthcare services to patients who are deaf or hard of hearing. By utilizing video conferencing platforms, healthcare professionals can conduct virtual appointments with American Sign Language (ASL) patients, facilitating immediate interpretation.

eLearning: While international students enrolled in elearning courses may possess a good understanding of English, they may encounter challenges with complex terminology, idiomatic expressions, or accents. VRI enables students to participate in discussions, ask questions, and engage with instructors without language barriers.

Importance of Leveraging Multiple Interpretation Modalities

Diversifying the interpretation support your organization offers is crucial. Whether it is On-Site Interpretation (OSI), Over-the-Phone Interpretation (OPI), or Video Remote Interpretation (VRI), each modality caters to distinct scenarios and preferences, ensuring accessibility for all stakeholders, regardless of their location, abilities, or circumstances.

On-site interpretation enables immediate and personalized assistance, particularly in sensitive situations where visual and contextual cues are essential. VRI leverages technology to bridge geographical barriers while accommodating busy schedules. Meanwhile, OPI is a quick and flexible solution that can be integrated into your existing call flows. By offering multiple modalities, you can create a seamless and adaptable communication ecosystem that caters to the diverse needs of your community.

Piedmont Global offers a broad range of on-site and remote interpreting services. Our interpreters help you communicate effectively in over 200 languages and bridge language gaps. Get in touch with our team to learn more about our professional interpreting services.

FDA Guidance for Diversity in Clinical Trials

Posted on by Piedmont Global Marketing
Encouraging the participation of people from diverse backgrounds in clinical trials is essential for advancing health equity. The individuals involved in these trials must mirror the demographics of the patients who will ultimately use the medical products being tested.
Unfortunately, there’s often a lack of representation from racial and ethnic minorities as well as other diverse groups in clinical research. For instance, the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) approved 53 novel drugs in 2020. According to the 2020 Drug Trials Snapshots Report, of these associated trials, 75% of participants self-reported their race as White.
This lack of diversity is concerning because individuals of different ages, races, and ethnicities may respond differently to various medical products. Without improving representation in research, we can continue to expect:
  • Compromised generalizability of research findings to the broader population.
  • Lack of faith and trust in treatment options among vulnerable populations.
  • Hindered innovation.
  • Obscured safety or efficacy outcomes.
  • Uneven disease burdens.

 

What are Clinical Trials?

Clinical trials are research studies conducted on human volunteers to assess the safety and efficacy of a new medical product for patients. Prior to introducing any new medication to the U.S. market, sponsors are required to conduct clinical trials to ascertain whether it is safe and effective to use in the general U.S. population.

 

FDA’s Role in Clinical Trials

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) supervises clinical trials for drugs, biologics, and medical products under its regulatory authority. These trials are crucial in the development of new drugs. When a sponsor aims to introduce a new medical treatment to the American public, they must provide the FDA with study designs and participant data from clinical trials for approval. The FDA reviews this information to determine if the new medication is safe and effective for broader usage among the general population, considering the intended purpose for which the drug is seeking approval.

 

Why is Participant Diversity Important for Clinical Trials?

“When developing a new drug, researchers need to make certain that the population enrolled in the clinical trials represents the type of population that the drug is going to be used in.”

Ajay Singh, Senior Associate Dean for postgraduate medical education at Harvard Medical School
An individual’s well-being is impacted by various elements, encompassing behavior, biology, surroundings, and notably, personal history. These life experiences are varied and influenced by factors like race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), location, gender, and other sociodemographic traits.In order to acknowledge and accommodate these diverse life experiences, clinical research should include participation from racial and ethnic minority populations, along with other groups encountering health disparities. This approach aims to reduce biases, advance social justice, encourage scientific innovation, and ultimately attain health equity.

 

Real-World Example of Diversity in Clinical Trials

In the early stages of the pandemic, COVID-19 had a disproportionately heavy impact on several racial and ethnic minority communities, including African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander groups. This led to higher rates of infection, hospitalizations, and fatalities within these populations.

It was vital to ensure adequate representation from diverse populations in COVID-19 vaccine trials to accurately assess their effectiveness, considering the varied environmental exposures and life experiences of individuals. By employing inclusive recruitment strategies, researchers were able to demonstrate that the safety and efficacy of vaccines remained consistent across all racial and ethnic groups. Moreover, engaging diverse populations enhances public trust in new medical interventions.

 

Barriers to Participation in Clinical Trials

Racial and ethnic minorities face numerous barriers that contribute to their reluctance to participate in clinical trials. These obstacles significantly impact health equity and the inclusion of diverse populations in medical research. Key factors include:

 

Eligibility Criteria

Using the same criteria across various trials can inadvertently lead to the exclusion of certain populations from trials, even when there isn’t a compelling clinical or scientific rationale for doing so. If individuals are excluded without sufficient justification, there’s a risk of overlooking critical safety and effectiveness insights about the new medication for all people who will take the drug, if it is approved by the FDA.

 

Mistrust in Clinical Trials

Historical mistreatment in medical research, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis study, have fostered deep-seated mistrust of public health officials and clinical trials, especially among many African Americans and Hispanic Americans. For example, the study was unethical because participants were not adequately informed about the nature of the study or the potential risks involved.

Pew Research Center conducted focus group discussions in July 2021, shedding light on the various factors that Black and Hispanic Americans consider when deciding whether to participate in a clinical trial.

“I would [participate in a clinical trial], because I do suffer from migraines, so if there would be something for me to help other people who have migraines. I probably would.”

Hispanic woman, age 25-39

Simultaneously, several participants talked about the delicate balance between their desire to help others and the need to safeguard themselves from potential harm.

“Because basically, this is my body and I don’t really know what you’re testing on me. Anything can happen to me. I can just break down or probably anything can just happen to me. So I don’t want to take the risk. It’s unknown for me.”

Black man, age 25-39

 

Lack of Awareness and Access

Minority individuals frequently lack awareness of clinical trials or encounter difficulties accessing information about them. This lack of awareness and accessibility hampers their ability to consider participation in these trials, potentially depriving them of opportunities for medical advancements. It is essential to address this issue to ensure equitable access to clinical trials and promote inclusivity in medical research participation among diverse populations. By improving awareness and accessibility, we can empower minority communities to make informed decisions about participating in clinical trials, leading to more representative and impactful research outcomes that benefit everyone.

 

Cultural and Language Barriers

Language differences and cultural nuances often create barriers to effective communication between researchers and minority participants in clinical trials. These obstacles can lead to misunderstandings and reluctance among minorities to participate in trials. It is crucial to address these challenges to foster trust, enhance communication, and promote greater inclusivity in medical research endeavors. By implementing strategies such as providing language interpretation services, culturally sensitive communication materials, and training researchers in cross-cultural communication, trials can bridge the communication gap and create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for minority participants. This not only improves the quality of research but also ensures that findings are applicable and beneficial to diverse populations.

 

FDA Guidelines to Improve Diversity in Clinical Trials

FDA published the guidance in April 2020 as part of its ongoing commitment to promoting the diversity of participants in clinical trials that test the safety and efficacy of new medical products. The guidance document provides recommendations that sponsors can apply to ensure participants in clinical trials are diverse.

  • Broaden the eligibility criteria for clinical trials and avoid unnecessary exclusions.
  • Design clinical trials in ways that achieve participant diversity.
  • Improve practices for recruiting participants to clinical trials.
  • Apply the recommendations for broad eligibility criteria to clinical trials of drugs intended to treat rare diseases or conditions.

Let’s dive deeper into each recommendation.

 

Broaden Eligibility Criteria

Clinical trials often establish stringent eligibility criteria, inadvertently leading to the exclusion of certain groups. Sponsors should carefully evaluate exclusion criteria to determine if any restrictions could be eased without compromising safety or scientific integrity. The FDA advises sponsors to include underrepresented racial and ethnic populations, such as Black, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, and Pacific Islander individuals, in trials to assess diverse responses to the new drug.

Sponsors are encouraged to set initial enrollment goals for underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, taking into account disease prevalence. Studying the drug’s effects in various populations enhances our understanding of its efficacy and safety, benefiting all individuals. By ensuring representation from diverse groups, clinical trials can yield more comprehensive and applicable results, ultimately advancing medical knowledge and improving healthcare outcomes for everyone.

 

Design Trials for Diversity

To ensure the enrollment of participants from diverse backgrounds, the FDA recommends several strategies for clinical trial sites. Firstly, sites should be situated in areas with higher concentrations of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and indigenous populations, as well as in neighborhoods where these communities typically receive healthcare services. Additionally, sponsors should consider flexible visit times and reduce the frequency of in-person study visits whenever possible and appropriate.

One approach to facilitate participation is by arranging for mobile medical professionals, such as nurses and blood collection workers, to conduct home visits or by allowing participants to visit local clinics or labs instead of trial sites. Alternatively, sponsors can employ electronic options, such as contacting participants via phone, email, social media, or telehealth technologies, to collect data and minimize the need for in-person visits.

Furthermore, it’s crucial to consider cultural nuances that may impact participation and commitment. Cultural awareness plays a vital role in engaging diverse groups in clinical trials. Practical steps to attract and retain underrepresented racial and ethnic participants involve tailored approaches such as providing language support, accommodations for individuals with disabilities, and addressing transportation barriers.

Here are five steps you can take to facilitate limited English proficient (LEP) patient recruitment to represent more diverse populations.

 

Improve Recruitment Practices

The FDA advises sponsors to ensure that interested individuals are well-informed about the trial and understand what participation entails. Recognizing that not all participants may be fluent in English, sponsors should provide trial-related resources and information in multiple languages, along with interpreters for those with limited English proficiency. Seeking feedback from participants or potential participants can also offer valuable insights into their challenges, burdens, and risk tolerance.

Engagement with the community is crucial. Sponsors should consult with patients, focus groups, community advisory boards, medical societies, healthcare providers, and disease registry staff to understand potential participants’ needs. Holding events in trusted locations such as places of worship, community centers, or cultural festivals can facilitate outreach.

Sponsors need to maintain ongoing engagement with participants and their communities even after the trial concludes. Sharing updates about the clinical trial helps to sustain and strengthen relationships with the communities from which participants were recruited.

Utilizing social media platforms is another effective strategy. For instance, if traditional referral centers are inaccessible to some participants due to location constraints, sponsors can employ online and social media recruitment methods to reach potential participants more effectively.

 

Diversity Clinical Trials for Rare Diseases

A rare disease is defined as a disease or condition that affects fewer than 200,000 people in the United States. Due to their low prevalence, studying and finding treatments for these diseases pose significant challenges. Sponsors conducting clinical trials for rare diseases must make special efforts to ensure diversity among participants.

During the early stages of medication development, sponsors can engage with patient advocacy groups, rare disease experts, and individuals living with rare diseases to solicit their input on trial designs, procedures, and other aspects. By incorporating patient suggestions, sponsors can enhance the relevance and effectiveness of clinical trials. This collaborative approach fosters trust and encourages patients to enroll in and support the trials, knowing that their perspectives are valued and considered. Ultimately, these efforts contribute to advancing research and improving outcomes for individuals with rare diseases.

 

Piedmont Global as Language Service Partner in Clinical Trials

The necessity for meaningful representation of racial and ethnic minorities in clinical trials is apparent in the FDA’s dedication to health equity. This importance is further emphasized by the adverse effects on patient outcomes and the general applicability of trial findings when diverse populations are excluded.

Addressing these challenges isn’t just about ethical and fair practices; it holds tangible implications. Enhancing diversity and inclusion in clinical trials can lead to more precise data and diminish disparities in health outcomes, ultimately benefiting society as a whole.

Piedmont Global offers high-quality translation services in over 200 languages, ensuring excellent experiences for Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients in clinical trials. Our highly qualified pool of linguists can facilitate sensitive patient interactions with both empathy and accuracy. We are dedicated to assisting you in navigating the intricacies of FDA and HIPAA requirements, utilizing our trusted in-country linguists, subject-matter experts, board-certified medical doctors, and sophisticated translation software to bridge language and culture for compassionate and effective communication. Get in touch to learn more.