Older Migrant Patients and Health Care Professionals' Experiences With Digital Translation Tools in Care Interactions: A Qualitative Literature Review.
Sirpa Rosendahl, Viveca Larsson
PMID 39535097WHAT IT FOUND
Digital translation tools help older migrant patients and clinicians manage basic care tasks like pain assessment and hygiene.
However, inaccurate translations and complex medical language limit their usefulness. These tools should support, not replace, human interpreters for diagnosis, consent, or serious conversations.
Key findings
01Clinicians used digital translation tools for basic care tasks such as pain assessment, positioning, and hygiene, while patients used them to communicate daily needs like toilet assistance and medication requests.
02Inaccurate translations and missing phrases were major limitations, with one case report describing a missed cancer diagnosis after Google Translate was used for history taking.
03Participants suggested improvements including adjustable volume for hearing impairment, larger text for vision impairment, slower speech rates, and discipline-specific phrase libraries.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only nine studies were included, and none met all quality criteria on the JBI checklist. The review excluded quantitative studies and reviews, limiting the evidence base to qualitative experiences. Most included studies were unclear about the researchers' role, which affects trustworthiness. The tools evaluated were specific (CALD Assist, Google Translate, etc.) and may not represent all digital translation options.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest and received no financial support for the research, authorship, or publication of this article.
The easy way to misread this
Do not use digital translation tools as a substitute for human interpreters in complex clinical situations. The review found that inaccurate translations led to a missed cancer diagnosis in one case, and participants consistently stated these tools are only suitable for basic, everyday care interactions.