The impact of translation on patient engagement in the APAC region

Effective communication is essential in life sciences. It can result in significant advancements in healthcare and improve the quality of life globally. Multilingual communication plays a pivotal role in engaging diverse audiences, facilitating collaboration, disseminating knowledge, and advancing research. 

Translation and localisation enable meaningful interactions between medical professionals and patients from different cultural backgrounds. When scientific and medical information is explained in a patient's own language, barriers disappear and understanding becomes easier.

This acessibility transcends language; it forms the bedrock of empathy and trust, essential for effective patient care and engagement. 

A Landscape of Diversity 

The life sciences industry in Asia Pacific is experiencing rapid growth. New markets drive this growth, along with an increased demand for innovative products and services. This is due to several factors; including a rising middle class, an aging population, and increasing government investment in healthcare. 

As the industry continues its ascent, effective communication is taking centre stage for healthcare and clinical trials companies. There has never been a greater need to engage with such a diverse spectrum of stakeholders; including patients, healthcare practitioners, and regulatory authorities, each of whom may communicate in distinct languages. 

In a multicultural landscape, pharmaceutical companies face the challenge of navigating not only language, but also social norms, and cultural sensitivities. The industry as a whole has the task of translating scientific advancements into practical care, fostering knowledge transfer, and improving healthcare outcomes. Additionally, precise translation in the regulatory sphere ensures compliance with varying APAC regulations, safeguarding patient safety and product standards. 

How Does Multilingual Communication Improve Engagement? 

Multilingual communication significantly improves engagement by breaking down barriers and creating a more inclusive and accessible environment for diverse audiences: 

• Patient-centered care: Effective multilingual communication enables healthcare providers to deliver patient-centered care, where patients' individual needs, preferences, and cultural sensitivities are taken into account. But with more stakeholders, comes more language requirements! In a clinical trial setting, ensuring patients and healthcare professionals are on the same page fosters trust and rapport, resulting in an empowered patient who is more inclined to understand and adhere to prescribed treatments. 
• Increases access to healthcare: In some countries, there are large populations of people who speak languages other than the national language. For example, there are over 100 languages spoken in India. Multilingual communication can help increase healthcare access for these populations by providing information and services in the language they are most comfortable with. 
• Improves accuracy of Clinical Outcome Assessments (COAs): Multilingual communication significantly enhances the accuracy of Clinical Outcome Assessments (COAs) by ensuring precise translation and cultural adaptation. This process involves skilled translators who meticulously translate COAs to maintain intended meanings while also considering cultural nuances. Linguistic validation and local language expertise verify accuracy and relevance, reducing response bias and measurement error. Using patients' native languages in communication improves their understanding and engagement. This, in turn, leads to more reliable and meaningful data collection in clinical trials. 
• Enhances accessibility of apps and websites: The era of telehealth has surged, catalyzed by the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. As health information seeks to traverse virtual avenues, translating patient portals and websites becomes imperative. Access to healthcare information in diverse languages empowers a broad spectrum of patients within the APAC region, enabling them to grasp insights, understand their health status, and make informed decisions that resonate with their unique linguistic and cultural backgrounds. 
• Provides an alternative to written communication: In the context of multifaceted multilingual communication, medical interpretation delineates a discrete trajectory, centering its attention on oral communication as opposed to written language. Medical interpreters serve as essential conduits, bridging the considerable voids from language and reading level disparities. These interpreters form the communication lifeline between limited English proficiency (LEP) patients and healthcare practitioners, ensuring that vital medical exchanges are untainted by language constraints. 
• Improves ethical and regulatory communication: Better understanding means empowered patients. The life sciences often involve intricate ethical considerations and regulatory frameworks that impact both research and public policy. Effective communication of these aspects requires clear and accurate translation to ensure stakeholders worldwide understand and comply with relevant guidelines. 

Ultimately, multilingual communication in this context enhances transparency and accountability, minimising misunderstandings and promoting responsible conduct within the scientific community. Researchers and policymakers can collaborate more effectively when discussing and implementing ethical practices and regulatory measures in languages that resonate with their unique perspectives. 

RWS and Multilingual Communication 

RWS is a global language partner that uses cutting edge technology to help life sciences companies communicate with people who speak different languages. We offer services like translation, localisation, and transcription to reach a larger audience and build trust with patients and healthcare professionals. 

Localising life sciences content is our forte, tailoring it to specific cultures and markets with meticulous precision. This customisation ensures that information resonates seamlessly with the expectations and sensibilities of the target demographic, enhancing engagement and relevance. 

Our seasoned experts are ready to collaborate with life sciences organisations to develop and execute multilingual communication strategies. This entails a comprehensive approach encompassing audience analysis, culturally apt content creation, and stringent adherence to regulatory stipulations. The result is a cohesive strategy that transcends linguistic confines and upholds accuracy and regulatory compliance. As a strategic partner, we empower life sciences entities to bridge linguistic gaps, forge connections, and navigate the intricate landscape of global healthcare communication with unwavering expertise.