McMaster University Case Study

Specialized Medical and Healthcare Translation

About McMaster University & The Confidence Project

“Art One’s expert multilingual translation of McMaster’s COVID-related materials—across 24 languages—ensured that vital information reached marginalized, Indigenous and non-English-speaking communities with clarity and respect.”

McMaster University is a research university in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, which ranks among the top 100 universities in the world. In 2021, the university adopted a new mission statement:

Impact, Ambition and Transformation through Excellence, Inclusion and Community: Advancing Human and Societal Health and Well-being

Given the depth of their commitment to health and well-being, it is no surprise that McMaster University is engaged in mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve this, they partnered with a Toronto-based nonprofit organization called Health Nexus, which specializes in health initiatives among pregnant and parenting individuals.

The result was The Confidence Project, which aims to provide pregnant and breast-feeding Canadians with evidence-based information on the importance of vaccination—specifically, the COVID-19 vaccine. The organization shares resources intended to combat misinformation and offset vaccine hesitancy. It also tracks the success of the initiative so that they can improve communication around vaccines in the future.

Challenge

The team behind the project designed an evidence-based infographic created to help pregnant and breast/chest-feeding individuals make an informed decision on the COVID-19 vaccine. The infographic can be shared at medical appointments or posted in public spaces. It contains a QR code that readers can scan to access even more information and detailed evidence.

The infographic is especially important given that pregnant and breastfeeding individuals are at increased risk for severe illness and death from COVID-19. They are also excluded from all vaccine trials, which may mean they need extra reassurance about safety.

Given that the Confidence Project particularly aims to address vaccine hesitancy among Canadians “belonging to marginalized, racialized, and Indigenous groups,” it was important to make the infographic available in multiple languages.

Aware that vaccine hesitancy affects diverse groups within Canadian society, including those who do not speak English or French, The Confidence Project is prepared to translate its content.

Solution

The Confidence Project sought a language services provider capable of handling specialized healthcare translation in over 20 languages.

Because the organizations behind the project are LGBTQ+ and gender-affirming, it was also important for the translations to use inclusive language, much like the original.

They also needed a translation provider with experience in medical translation in a wide range of languages spoken in Canada, from Spanish and Punjabi to Indigenous Canadian languages such as Cree, Inuktitut, and Ojibwe.

After asking around for translation vendors that could handle healthcare translation, the team was referred to Art One Translations. The research coordinator for The Confidence Project, who works alongside faculty and research staff in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at McMaster University, selected Art One.

From day one, they were impressed with Art One’s “excellent project management and client communication.”

Results & Impact

Art One translated “scientific and medical content for an infographic into 24 languages for public distribution,” says the project coordinator. “The quality of their translations is excellent.” Art One’s medical translation work with The Confidence Project has allowed the organization to make the infographic available in 24 languages other than English. In addition to 3 Indigenous languages, the project also included translations into Korean, Tamil, and Spanish, as well as both Traditional and Simplified Chinese, to name a few. Because of the sensitivity and risks inherent in translation for healthcare, the client used an independent third party to evaluate Art One’s translations, which were found to be impeccable. They also noted that Art One offers a “fast translation turnaround,” always an asset in technical translations for healthcare. Art One’s team used their expertise in both translation and inclusion and medical translation to produce translated content that would resonate with the target audience. The translated infographics use language that refers to pregnant and nursing people, no matter their gender identification. Working with a single language services provider for all 24 languages made the process easier for the busy team at The Confidence Project, who did not need to juggle multiple timelines or points of contact.

Explore more of our translation case studies.

Related services:

Translation for Nonprofits

Relevant sectors:

Healthcare · Research · Public Interest

Featured on:

Clutch FIRMS THAT DELIVER

Need accurate, timely translations for healthcare and public health education?

Partner with Art One Translations to ensure clarity, compliance, and impact.