The medical and pharmaceutical fields are some of the most challenging when it comes to translation. When it comes to clinical research translations, especially in the case of a clinical trial, accurate translation is of utmost importance. You need a translation company with professionals who are familiar with medical terms in a wide variety of languages. This allows for significant time and cost savings.

Here are the 5 biggest challenges you face when choosing a medical and clinical translation company and how choosing the right provider makes your job easier: 

1. Medical Terminology

A reliable medical translation requires not only an excellent command of the language, but often also substantive knowledge, which not every translator can demonstrate. Specialized medical translation suppliers guarantee the selection of translators appropriate for the content’s specificity. Such persons are perfectly familiar with the terminology of individual medical fields, such as diabetology, neurology, or veterinary medicine. Therefore, choosing a provider with a team of specialists allows you to save time spent on possible later corrections.

2. Constantly Changing Information

Medical information and terminology are constantly evolving with the development of medicine. Terms have to be invented for new medical conditions, symptoms, phenomenons, and medications on a regular basis, making the translation into other languages that much more challenging. The COVID-19 pandemic is a perfect example of this, as new terms were created for so many aspects of this unprecedented situation. Translation services is just one of the many industries that was profoundly affected by the pandemic.

3. Consistency

Anyone working in the clinical research industry knows the importance of consistency in the terminology used in documents. Medical brochures, drug leaflets, research reports, and any other documentation must be seamlessly translated into other languages. Interpretation of medical information directly from person to person must also be consistent. Any inconsistencies can lead to errors in the later stages of the study, as well as the need for re-translation, which is associated with delays and additional costs. This is why it is helpful to work with a specialized translation company throughout a clinical trial.

4. Interpretation

The medical field is always in need of interpreters to communicate effectively with patients and other medical professionals in other languages. Interpreters must be able to keep up with the conversation and accurately convey the information that is stated, in real-time or shortly afterward. Interpretation can be whispered (while the speaker is talking), simultaneous (spoken aloud for a large group), consecutive (one section of speech at a time), and remote (over the phone or computer), whatever the situation calls for. 

5. Accuracy

In the case of clinical research translations, lack of accuracy can cause a trial to be invalid or for newly learned information to be misconstrued or misunderstood when it is translated into other languages. This is why it is crucial that the translators performing the orders are specialized in a particular field. In order to reduce the risk of inaccuracy in translation, our company consults doctors who are specialists in a given field, e.g. oncologists.

KONTEKST: Medical and Pharmaceutical Translation Specialists

The challenges listed above can make translation and interpretation for medical and clinical research a bit difficult. But not when you work with the experts at KONTEKST. We specialize in medical and pharmaceutical translation and interpretation. Our translators stay up to date with current medical terminology to provide accurate, consistent translations. We translate into more than 250 languages to meet your needs. 

Contact us today to schedule a consultation. We look forward to providing you with quality translation services.