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Finding Clinical Empathy in AI Language Models and Medical Translations

/ 3 October 2024 /

AI’s unique ability to create “empathetic” language can become a powerful tool in both medicine and medical translations.

As large language models (LLMs) find their way into various areas of medicine, including medical translations, an unexpected conclusion has emerged: AI-generated responses are perceived as compassionate. This could have a real impact not only on patient care but also on the quality of communication in medical translations.

A study published in JAMA Network Open examined how AI-generated responses could affect physicians’ communications with patients. The study involved 52 physicians who used AI-generated message drafts over several weeks, while a control group of 70 physicians did not use the AI tool. The analysis showed that using AI increased reading time by 21.8% and message length by 17.9%. These findings suggest that AI could also enhance the effectiveness and quality of medical translations.

The Role of Compassion in AI and Medical Translations

Despite its artificial origin, AI-generated compassion is becoming a significant element in healthcare communication as well as medical translations. Physicians in the study found that using AI-generated drafts reduced their cognitive load by offering a caring structure for their responses. Similarly, in medical translations, the appropriate structure and compassionate language can play a crucial role in conveying complex medical content to patients or healthcare institutions.

From Physician Communication to the Quality of Medical Translations

Although the study primarily focused on physicians’ experiences, the results suggest that AI can improve the quality and efficiency of medical translations. A carefully crafted, empathetic message—whether human or AI-generated—can make patients feel understood. In medical translations, an empathetic approach and well-structured sentences can help patients better understand medical documentation or test results.

Artificial Empathy in Medical Translations: Is It Just Words?

In medical translations, finding “compassion” in technology that is often seen as emotionless can make a crucial difference. When AI creates translations using empathetic language, it can meet the expectations of patients and doctors for effective communication. Compassionate medical translations can significantly impact patient care and encourage better engagement with treatment plans.

Personalization in Medical Translations

The study also highlights the critical role of human input. Physicians adjusted AI-generated drafts to better fit patients’ needs, and the same should apply to medical translations. Personalization of medical translations, tailoring them to individual patients, adds authenticity and enhances the quality of the final content.

The Future: Compassionate AI and Medical Translations

The key takeaway is that compassion, even in its artificial form, can serve as a useful tool in both medicine and medical translations. While AI does not feel empathy, its ability to craft compassionate language can improve communication between physicians, patients, and translators. This has the potential to positively impact health outcomes and the quality of medical translations, making it an area worth developing further.

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