The Global Rise of Digital Health and What it Means for Translation
Globally, the use of telemedicine and digital health apps continues to rise. There are currently more than 350,000 health-related apps in app stores, and the mHealth (mental health) apps segment alone is forecast to reach US$ 77.6 billion by 2030.
It’s easy to see why. From apps and wearables to real-time telemedicine platforms, people now have faster, more convenient routes to seeking health advice and managing medical conditions when in-person contact isn’t possible.
But, as more people around the world access healthcare online, effective translation of digital and telemedicine apps and platforms has never been more pertinent.
Here we explore the many benefits of digital health and the crucial role of translation in ensuring their continued rise remains both safe and ethical.
The Growing Popularity of Digital Health Solutions
Digital healthcare saw a surge in popularity in 2020, driven largely by the Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions around in-person medical advice. In the US alone, use of telehealth in 2020 increased by 154% compared to the previous year – and this shows no sign of slowing.
So, what can digital health apps and telemedicine solutions offer and what makes them so appealing?
Digital healthcare extends far beyond the commonly used apps and wearables for tracking and maintaining healthy lifestyles. Telemedicine solutions have flowed into nearly every aspect of healthcare, from apps for real-time contact with healthcare professionals and chronic disease management, to apps monitoring patients’ vital signs and health data remotely, to apps for prescription renewals and general medical advice. Meanwhile, the mHealth segment covers apps to access specific mental health services, such as virtual therapy sessions, online support groups and self-assessment tools.
With the array of choice also comes an array of benefits. This includes increased access and convenience, as people can now access medical services anywhere, anytime, making it far more convenient for those with mobility issues and those living in remote areas. With this, also comes faster response rates, as patient portals and AI-powered mean people can skip appointments for more routine services, helping to reduce overall waiting times.
Digital apps and platforms can also lead to a better patient experience, by offering simpler, more streamlined routes to renew prescriptions, discuss issues and provide feedback.
Meanwhile, the capturing of more accurate data and the rise of AI and machine learning solutions is also leading to improvements in healthcare workflows, patient monitoring and diagnosis.
The Crucial Role of Translation
The importance of accurate translation in the medical field is well documented. But this importance is amplified when we consider the truly global nature of digital health solutions. As more people around the world gain access to new apps and platforms to manage their health, translation has an even more crucial role in maintaining patient safety and ethics.
A critical barrier is the fact that most health apps are designed with the English-speaking world in mind, which gives rise to a whole series of issues related to accessibility, trust and engagement and, ultimately, patient safety. Without effective local language versions of tools and solutions, many communities are isolated from vital healthcare services when they move online. It’s also proven that people are more likely to trust and interact with apps and tools when they are available in their native language – and in the healthcare sector this can mean the difference between adhering to medical advice, follow-ups and long-term care or not. Perhaps most crucial is patient safety, where any inaccuracies or misunderstandings in medical advice on such a large scale can pose serious health risks.
Medical tools are also bound by national laws and guidelines requiring them to be accessible in official or minority languages. In these cases, translation also ensures digital health solutions adhere to medical standards.
A Healthy Outcome
As digital health apps and telemedicine solutions become an ever more integral part of today’s modern healthcare landscape, the role of translation cannot be understated.
Making localization a core part of health app development – taking into account both language and cultural sensitivities, and prioritizing accessibility and usability – is the healthy outcome to ensuring digital health can best serve everyone – no matter the language they speak.
How Mother Tongue Can Help
Mother Tongue’s Life Sciences division provides specialized support to overcome the challenges of internationalizing content for the pharmaceutical industry.
Our dedicated team of in-house project managers and worldwide network of expert medical creatives, strategists and linguists can support at every step of the project lifecycle, to ensure accurate, culturally appropriate and authentically local pharmaceutical content.
Get in touch to see how we can help you develop more globally accurate healthcare solutions.