Healthcare providers' use and acceptance of translation technologies in multilingual healthcare settings: a cross-sectional study.
9 affiliations
- 1Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, Building West 26, 20246, Hamburg, Germany. [email protected].
- 2Department of Applied Human Sciences, Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences, Stendal, Germany. [email protected].
- 3Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, Building West 26, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
- 4Division of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
- 5Department of Applied Human Sciences, Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences, Stendal, Germany.
- 6Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
- 7Faculty of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
- 8Department of Community Medicine, Discipline of Public Health and Management, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
- 9Department of Public Health, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Abstract
Background
Language barriers remain a major challenge to equitable healthcare delivery. While qualified interpreters are considered the preferred standard, their availability is often limited. Translation technologies are therefore increasingly used in practice. However, quantitative evidence on how healthcare providers use these tools, how they evaluate them, and which factors are associated with their acceptance remains limited.Methods
A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among healthcare and psychosocial service providers across a range of clinical settings. Inferential analyses were restricted to the German sample (n = 258), with Romanian data (n = 185) used for exploratory descriptive comparison. The survey assessed experiences with language barriers, communication strategies, and acceptance of translation technologies based on the Technology Acceptance Model. Descriptive analyses characterised use patterns, and multivariable ordinary least squares regression with HC3-robust inference examined factors associated with behavioural intention to use translation technologies.Results
A total of 443 healthcare providers were included. Translation technologies were used by 65.0% of providers in the previous three months, often in the absence of formal organisational support, training, or guidelines. Use varied descriptively across country samples and professional groups, with higher use observed in the German sample and among medical-technical and nursing staff. Acceptance was moderately positive, with perceived usefulness showing the strongest controlled association with behavioural intention to use translation technologies (β = 0.44, p < 0.001). Organisational factors and contextual concerns were not independently associated with behavioural intention. Providers reported concerns regarding accuracy and data privacy, and more cautious use in contexts requiring nuanced, relational communication.Conclusions
Translation technologies appear to function as pragmatic, ad hoc solutions to communication challenges in multilingual healthcare. While these tools may facilitate basic communication, their limitations in complex interactions and the absence of governance frameworks raise important considerations for their safe and equitable implementation. Rather than replacing professional interpreting services, translation technologies may be best understood as complementary resources within a broader communication strategy. Their contribution to equitable care will depend on how they are implemented to support meaningful communication and address the needs of service users facing language barriers.
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BibTeX
@article{kreienbrinck2026healthcare,
title = {{Healthcare providers' use and acceptance of translation technologies in multilingual healthcare settings: a cross-sectional study.}},
author = {Annika Kreienbrinck and Saskia Hanft-Robert and Muhammed-Talha Topçu and Ovidiu Oltean and Alina-Ioana Forray and Răzvan Mircea Cherecheș and Mike Mösko},
journal = {International journal for equity in health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1186/s12939-026-03085-6},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42919266},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Healthcare providers' use and acceptance of translation technologies in multilingual healthcare settings: a cross-sectional study.
AU - Annika Kreienbrinck
AU - Saskia Hanft-Robert
AU - Muhammed-Talha Topçu
AU - Ovidiu Oltean
AU - Alina-Ioana Forray
AU - Răzvan Mircea Cherecheș
AU - Mike Mösko
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/21
JO - International journal for equity in health
DO - 10.1186/s12939-026-03085-6
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42919266
AB - Background Language barriers remain a major challenge to equitable healthcare delivery. While qualified interpreters are considered the preferred standard, their availability is often limited. Translation technologies are therefore increasingly used in practice. However, quantitative evidence on how healthcare providers use these tools, how they evaluate them, and which factors are associated with their acceptance remains limited.Methods A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among healthcare and psychosocial service providers across a range of clinical settings. Inferential analyses were restricted to the German sample (n = 258), with Romanian data (n = 185) used for exploratory descriptive comparison. The survey assessed experiences with language barriers, communication strategies, and acceptance of translation technologies based on the Technology Acceptance Model. Descriptive analyses characterised use patterns, and multivariable ordinary least squares regression with HC3-robust inference examined factors associated with behavioural intention to use translation technologies.Results A total of 443 healthcare providers were included. Translation technologies were used by 65.0% of providers in the previous three months, often in the absence of formal organisational support, training, or guidelines. Use varied descriptively across country samples and professional groups, with higher use observed in the German sample and among medical-technical and nursing staff. Acceptance was moderately positive, with perceived usefulness showing the strongest controlled association with behavioural intention to use translation technologies (β = 0.44, p < 0.001). Organisational factors and contextual concerns were not independently associated with behavioural intention. Providers reported concerns regarding accuracy and data privacy, and more cautious use in contexts requiring nuanced, relational communication.Conclusions Translation technologies appear to function as pragmatic, ad hoc solutions to communication challenges in multilingual healthcare. While these tools may facilitate basic communication, their limitations in complex interactions and the absence of governance frameworks raise important considerations for their safe and equitable implementation. Rather than replacing professional interpreting services, translation technologies may be best understood as complementary resources within a broader communication strategy. Their contribution to equitable care will depend on how they are implemented to support meaningful communication and address the needs of service users facing language barriers.
SN - 1475-9276
ER -