Language Barriers Research Articles

Vaccine awareness and hesitancy among Ukrainian refugee mothers in Bulgaria

Abstract Issue Migration carry out risk of disrupting the epidemiological well-being among refugees and host populations. Since the beginning of Ukraine crisis over 50 000 refugees remain in Bulgaria; 92% are women and children. There is suboptimal childhood immunization coverage among Ukrainian refugee community prior to arrival in Bulgaria. Description of the problem Childhood vaccination is mandatory in Bulgaria for TB, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, rubella, measles, mumps, Haemophilus influenzae B and pneumococci. Refugees with uncertain immunization status are vaccinated according to the national immunization schedule and receive personal immunization card. As of March 2024, we conducted cross-sectional study to assess knowledge and attitudes of Ukrainian mothers through an interview. Results Of 105 mothers interviewed, 72.38% were with higher education. Arrived women were not familiar with Bulgarian health system and especially with vaccination. Absence of language barrier and presence of doctors among them facilitated our study.56.19% believe that migration has disrupted their children’s vaccinations. 56.19% consider that migration has disrupted their children’s vaccination. Aware of benefits of vaccines were 91,43%, they mainly trust doctors-84.76%, they pay attention to the positive discussion in the media-55.77%.Mothers realize the importance of herd immunity, considering that vaccinated children protect the others-68.57%.Leading reasons for mistrust of vaccines, mothers indicate - doubt in favor of vaccine-24.76%, medical contraindications for child-21.90% and doubts about quality of the vaccine-19.05%.They pay attention to positive discussion in the media-55.77% and have confidence in Bulgaria’s institutions. Lessons The Government of Bulgaria provided significant support and medical care for the prevention of vaccinepreventable diseases among Ukrainian children. Institutions and volunteers work for successful integration of refugees. Key messages • Need to know the immunization status of Ukrainian children admitted to Bulgaria. • Increasing trust in vaccines and the health system in general in Bulgaria requires additional explanatory campaigns among refugees.

Inclusive, needs-based research for addressing Health Literacy in Parents with immigrant backgrounds

Abstract Research indicates that parental health literacy is associated with child health outcomes. A 2021 study by the Norwegian Public Health Department found that certain immigrant groups struggle with health literacy due to language barriers, cultural differences in understanding of health and illness, and unfamiliarity with the Norwegian health system and services. To reduce differences in health literacy and better support parents with immigrant backgrounds to make health promoting choices for their children, and navigate the Norwegian health and social systems effectively, we need knowledge about their resources, challenges, and needs. This knowledge makes it possible to design strategies to promote parental health literacy and make health services more responsive to the needs of the population. Optimising health literacy amongst parents with immigrant backgrounds (OPAL) is a research collaboration between Oslo Metropolitan University and the Bjerke City District, one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse districts in Oslo. Applying the Optimising Health Literacy and Access (Ophelia) process, parents health professionals, and researchers work systematically together to develop knowledge of parents’ health literacy, identify priority areas for research, design and implement effective solutions in primary health care. In this presentation, we will describe how OPAL is rooted in the strategic priorities of the city district, how the project applies methods for needs identification and involves users and stakeholders at all stages. We will share experiences from planning and conducting inclusive data collection, preliminary results and describe how results will be used in development of targeted health literacy actions.

Health workers’ perceptions on refugees’ access to healthcare and right to health in Turkiye

Abstract In Turkey, over the past decade, the influx of refugees has significantly influenced migration policy and consequently, health policy for refugees, shaping the perspectives of healthcare workers towards refugees. To gauge healthcare workers’ perceptions regarding refugees’ access to healthcare and their right to health, a survey was conducted across three hospitals in two cities (n = 547). The drop-collect methodology was used, obtaining consent in advance. Healthcare workers (HCWs) were classified into four groups: doctors (n: 139), nurses and midwives (n: 201), other healthcare professionals (n: 58) and non-healthcare professional (n: 137). Additionally, twelve people who did not want to disclose their profession were excluded from the statistics when comparing responses by profession. According to HCWs’ experiences, the most common obstacles faced by refugees included language barriers due to not knowing Turkish, the absence of interpreters in hospitals, cultural disparities, and financial constraints. Among HCWs, 89.8% (n = 491) believe that health constitutes a fundamental human right, yet only 55.8% (n = 305) advocate for free emergency services for all. Furthermore, 43.1% express concerns that providing healthcare to refugees might attract more refugees, and 38% suggest that only individuals deemed healthy through health screening upon entry should be permitted into the country. Responses to inquiries about the prevalent issues varied across cities and occupational groups. Despite the majority of HCWs adopting a right-based approach to health, it is evident that some lean towards a deservingness perspective regarding refugees’ access to healthcare. Consequently, there is a pressing need for collaboration among various sectors to furnish adequate information and training for HCWs on migrants’ rights and prejudice. This should be a part of migration policy, leading to a more migrant-friendly health system. Key messages • Collaboration among diverse sectors is urgently needed to provide healthcare workers with thorough information and training on the rights of migrants and addressing prejudice. • Implementing training programs for healthcare workers as a component of migration policy is essential for building a migrant-friendly healthcare system.

Lenin, Putin, and Rage Guy: Internet memes in the discourse of a Russian far-right community

ABSTRACT The article addresses Internet memes’ usage in Russian far-right discourse, seeking to evaluate how it corresponds with the basic roles of memes in political communication and the extent to which the Russian far-right memetic vernacular is universally translatable. The article uses qualitative content analysis and multimodal discourse analysis of the “Right-Wing Memes” community on the Russian social networking site Vkontakte. The Russian far-right builds its social identity by filling the floating signifiers of the “left-wing,” “migrants,” and “Russian national state” with relevant meanings through the memetic means of visual humor, bitter irony, and parallel comparison. These construct the in- and out-groups, convey the ideological message, and give voice to the groups excluded from the mainstream. However, although the Russian far-right employs globalized memetic tropes, the content is mainly country-specific, which, together with the language barrier, hinders the formation of a universal far-right memetic discourse.

Association between Thai language proficiency and adherence to COVID-19 protective behaviors (CPB) among Myanmar migrant workers in Southern Thailand.

The association between host country language proficiency and disease prevention among migrants is underexplored. The objective of this study is to assess the extent to which self-reported command of the Thai language is associated with adherence to COVID-19 protective behaviors (CPB) among Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand. We distributed a self-administered structured questionnaire in Burmese language to 1,050 Myanmar migrant workers in Southern Thailand from September 2022 to January 2023. The questionnaire included background characteristics, self-reported Thai language proficiency based on the Common European Framework Reference (CEFR), and self-reported CPB adherence at residence and workplace. We analyzed data using descriptive statistics and multivariate linear regression analysis. Although slightly less than half of the participants reported CEFR A1 level or higher in Thai speaking and listening skills, less than 10 percent did so for reading and writing skills. Workplace COVID-19 preventive adherence scores were initially found to be significantly associated with A1 level or higher speaking and listening skills. However, after adjusting for confounders, these associations were not statistically significant (Speaking skill's Adjusted Beta = 0.713, 95% CI = -0.011, 1.437; Listening skill's Adjusted Beta = -0.367, 95% CI = -1.087, 0.353). No significant associations were found between any language skill domain and residence COVID-19 preventive adherence scores for both unadjusted and adjusted analysis. The study findings may have implications for relevant stakeholders in migrant services, migrant health, and infectious disease control. However, information biases, language barriers, and lack of generalizability should be considered as caveats in the interpretation of the study findings.

SignifAI: French sign language translation based on deep learning and large language models

In this project, we propose SignifAI which is an AI-powered software that translates French Sign Language into spoken French. The goal of SignifAI is to remove the language barrier that separates the deaf and hearing communities. The translation process proves to be a major challenge for existing methods, as most of them rely on traditional Natural Language Processing (NLP) methods which solve the task in a similar way as spoken languages (e.g., paying more attention to the logics and reasoning). The drastic syntactical difference between sign and spoken languages, however, makes such approaches not as effective and efficient. In SignifAI, we propose to leverage a combination of deep learning models for sign gesture recognition and large language models (LLM) for sentence generation from recognized words. The former allows for precise detection of individual words, while the latter takes the recognized words as inputs and returns a fluently reformulated translated sentence. With extremely limited data available for French sign language, we created our own enhanced dataset through synthetically augmenting existing videos. Utilizing the SlowFast model for this task, we have achieved a maximum test accuracy of 98.9%, and a fluid translation process after implementing ChatGPTs API. The potential applications of SignifAI range from aiding communication between the deaf and the hearing, to helping the deaf place phone calls in numerical services. Ultimately, SignifAI strives to improve all aspects of a deaf persons life, and compensates for their speaking disabilities.

Efficacy of Clear Aligner Therapy for the Treatment of Anterior Open Bite in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The objective of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the effectiveness of clear aligner therapy (CAT) for the treatment of anterior open bite (AOB) in adults. The focused question was "Is CAT effective for the management of AOB in adults?". Databases were searched without time and language barriers up to and including August 2024 based on pre-specified eligibility criteria. Risk of Bias (RoB) assessment was performed using the Risk-of-Bias-In-Non-randomised-Studies-of-Intervention (ROBINS-I) tool. Meta-analyses were conducted using a random effects model (REM) for change in AOB and cephalometric measurements with an evaluation of the mean difference (MD) and/or standardised mean difference (SMD). The Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) tool was used to assess the quality of evidence. Publication bias was assessed using Funnel plots and Egger's regression test. There were 14 studies included in the qualitative assessment and 12 in the meta-analysis. The RoB was moderate in 13 studies and low in one. The meta-analysis showed significant AOB correction with CAT [(MD) = 2.76 mm, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.23-3.28] due to maxillary and mandibular incisor extrusion (MD = 0.85 mm, CI: 0.43-1.26 and MD = 0.86 mm, CI: 0.29-1.44, respectively). There were no significant changes identified for maxillary and mandibular molar intrusion or changes in the mandibular plane angle (MPA). The level of confidence was high for AOB correction, incisor extrusion, and molar intrusion and low for MPA. CAT leads to a significant correction of AOB of approximately 2.76 mm, which can be mainly attributed to incisor extrusion.

Research Buddy—From a Framework for Overcoming Language Barriers to the Development of a Qualitative Citizen Science Platform

Abstract Students benefit from international study programmes in fields such as HCI. However, user-centred research in a foreign country has some challenges, especially language hurdles when going into the field and conducting ethnographic and participatory studies. A particular obstacle is added when targeting groups that do not speak English, such as in Germany, where English was not taught in schools until the 1970s. The task and challenge of the present project, ‘Research Buddy’, is to bring together young international students and older people as co-researchers in Germany. We describe the participatory development of the concept of a matching platform and its design. In focus groups with older people, university faculty and students, requirements for a collaborative research infrastructure were jointly identified and prototypically implemented. The empirical results focus on the possibilities the platform offers for qualitative citizen science in the field of age tech.

Challenges and coping strategies in airline service under crosscultural context

This study explores the challenges faced by airline cabin service from the perspectives of globalization and intercultural communication, as well as potential strategies to address these issues. The paper first reviews and analyzes the intercultural interaction problems that have emerged in airline cabin service, including language barriers, cultural clashes, and the misunderstandings and conflicts they bring. Subsequently, through field research and in-depth interviews, this article proposes and demonstrates a series of strategies to address these issues, including providing cultural adaptability training, enhancing cabin crew's language proficiency and intercultural communication skills, and improving the quality of service. Through the study and analysis of these strategies, this paper concludes that intercultural sensitivity and adaptability are crucial for improving the quality of airline cabin service and passenger satisfaction, providing theoretical basis and practical reference for airlines.

Web-based training and certification of clinical staff during the randomised clinical trial SafeBoosC-III

BackgroundSafeBoosC-III is a pragmatic, multinational clinical trial evaluating cerebral oximetry-guided treatment for extremely preterm infants. In total, 1601 infants were randomised across 70 sites in Asia, Europe, and USA. To enhance data quality and patient care, a web-based training program was implemented for staff. We now report on the processes.MethodsAll training modules consisted of initial learning material followed by a case-based quiz, with elaborate responses to correct as well as to wrong answers. Modules covered trial introduction, cerebral oximetry monitoring, treatment guidelines, cerebral ultrasound, and Good Clinical Practice. The introduction module was accessible in eight languages on an online platform, while language versions varied for other modules, due to different needs. Certification was earned upon module completion, relevant to the staff category. The training was not mandatory, but for motivational purposes, principal investigators continuously received local certification rate reports.ResultsA total of 926 out of 2347 staff (39%) obtained certification. Amongst 295 staff who completed the evaluation, 83% rated the program as overall good and 94% found it relevant to clinical practice. Sites exhibited varying certification rates, with 10 at 0%, 43 between 0.1 and 79.9%, and 17 exceeding 80%. There was no correlation between the rate of certification in individual sites and how often the clinical management was changed due to cerebral hypoxia nor a correlation to site-specific estimates of the intervention effect.ConclusionDespite language barriers and a low budget, our web-based training and certification program proved feasible. Only a minority of sites reached 80% certification of staff and an impact on the trial could not be detected.Trial registrationThe SafeBoosC-III trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03770741. The first participant was randomised in June 2019 and recruitment was completed in December 2021.

Barriers and facilitators to culturally sensitive care in general practice: a reflexive thematic analysis

BackgroundThis study investigated the perceived barriers and potential facilitators for culturally sensitive care among general practitioners in Flanders. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for improving healthcare quality and equity.MethodologyTwenty-one in-depth interviews were conducted with Flemish GPs. Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis was employed to develop and interpret themes that elucidate shared underlying meanings and capture the nuanced challenges and strategies related to cultural sensitivity in healthcare.ResultsTwo core themes were generated: GPs’ uncertainty and opposition. These themes manifest in emotional responses such as frustration, miscomprehension, and feelings of helplessness, influencing relational outcomes marked by patient disconnect and reduced motivation for cultural sensitivity. The barriers identified are exacerbated by resource scarcity and limited intercultural contact. Conversely, facilitators include structural elements like interpreters and individual strategies such as engagement, aimed at enhancing GPs’ confidence in culturally diverse encounters. A meta-theme of perceived lack of control underscores the challenges, particularly regarding language barriers and resource constraints, highlighting the critical role of GPs’ empowerment through enhanced intercultural communication skills.ConclusionAddressing GPs’ uncertainties and oppositions can mitigate related issues, thereby promoting comprehensive culturally sensitive care. Essential strategies include continuous education and policy reforms to dismantle structural barriers. Moreover, incentivizing culturally sensitive care through quality care financial incentives could bolster GP motivation. These insights are pivotal for stakeholders—practitioners, policymakers, and educators—committed to advancing culturally sensitive healthcare practices and, ultimately, for fostering more equitable care provision.

30 Access to Autism Spectrum Disorder services for marginalized families in Canada: A scoping review

Abstract Background In Canada, despite universal healthcare, immigrant and racially marginalized families face unique barriers when accessing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) services for their children. Exploring these experiences is critical to inform the federal government’s efforts to create a national autism strategy that serves children and families with ASD in Canada. Objectives We conducted a scoping review of immigrant, refugee, and racially marginalized families’ access to, utilization, and experiences with ASD services in Canada. Design/Methods The Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methodology was used. A literature search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, APA PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted in August 2023. English and French-language qualitative studies describing the experiences of marginalized families in Canada with accessing and/or using ASD services for their child <18 years were included. To assess eligibility of search results, title, abstract, and full-text screening were conducted independently by two reviewers. For included studies, two reviewers extracted data and appraised articles using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme qualitative checklist. Results There were 4,489 search results. After de-duplication, 3,804 studies remained. Of these studies, 12 met inclusion criteria – representing 320 immigrant caregivers living in Ontario (n=167), Quebec (n=151), and British Columbia (n=2). Caregivers immigrated from Africa (n=55), Latin America (n=43), Europe (n=25), Asia (n=13), North America (n=11), the Middle East (n=4), and unreported (n=169). Of note, no studies focused on refugees. Common barriers when accessing ASD services were related to: difficulties navigating the health system (wait times, limited resources in the public system, high costs for private services, lack of collaboration between school and healthcare providers), challenges interacting with service providers (feeling unheard, discrimination, lack of continuity of care), and cultural differences (regarding ASD, language barriers, social isolation). In contrast, families identified supportive healthcare and school personnel, provision of culturally-specific multilingual resources, and parent-led peer support networks as key facilitators to ASD service access and use. Conclusion These results highlight gaps in existing research, especially around the experiences of refugee families. Our findings reiterate the importance of greater caregiver involvement in informing evidence-based recommendations to improve Canadian service provision, policy, and research. This national focus is especially relevant, given that 23% of Canadians in the most recent 2021 census are landed immigrants – representing the highest proportion of immigrants in Canada to date and emphasizing the growing need for culturally competent care.

82 Assessing the usage of and barriers to using language interpretation services in a Canadian tertiary paediatric center

Abstract Background Canada has one of the highest immigration rates worldwide per population with roughly 447,180 permanent residents welcomed in 2022. Limited-English proficiency (LEP) populations face barriers in accessing health care with implications including delayed presentation, misdiagnosis, poor compliance, decreased patient comprehension, and adverse events. Adequate health care provider training in using language interpretation services (LIS) is crucial to improve the quality of patient care and reduce miscommunication. There is a lack of research in this area in Canadian paediatric populations. Objectives To identify attitudes towards and usage of LIS among health care providers in a tertiary paediatric center, as well as levels of LIS training received. Design/Methods An online survey was developed and distributed to paediatric health care professionals including physicians, residents/fellows, nursing staff, and allied health providers. Survey completion was anonymous and voluntary; data collection occurred from October 2022–February 2023. Descriptive statistics were used for quantitative data and thematic analysis for free text responses. Results 345 respondents accessed the survey and 281(81%) completed it. Multiple paediatric professions were surveyed with most responses stemming from nursing staff, residents and physicians, and other allied health. 52.8% of respondents encountered a paediatric patient and/or their caregivers with a language barrier in English once per week or more. LIS were used by 53.1% of respondents once per week or more. 51.5% of respondents reported no previous training in using LIS in patient care, and 3.6% reported previous formal training. 57.9% of respondents felt LIS training was very beneficial to their role and 53.7% reported this increased their LIS usage. Overall, in-person interpreters were perceived as the most effective LIS modality followed by video and telephone interpreters. Barriers to using LIS included: inability to access desired modality and/or language; insufficient time; and lack of comfort in effective usage. Conclusion It was evident respondents felt LIS was integral to patient care, especially with an increasingly diverse population. Multiple barriers to using LIS were identified with likely applicability to other Canadian paediatric facilities. Suggested improvements were themed around improving LIS accessibility, improving LIS education and awareness, and increasing access to rare languages. This study has important implications for LIS and paediatric care, including informing educational and advocacy initiatives, policy change, and LIS resource allocation.

Factors influencing vaccination up-take among nomadic population in four regions of Ghana: a qualitative study

BackgroundVaccination has contributed to the reduction in vaccine preventable diseases. Despite, improved global coverage, vaccination among nomadic populations is still low especially in Africa. This study explored factors influencing vaccination uptake among pastoralist nomads in Ghana.MethodsWe conducted key informant interviews (KII) in 11 districts across four regions of Ghana, using grounded theory qualitative research approach. One hundred and eighty-two KII were conducted among pastoralist nomads, community opinion leaders, community health volunteers, security services personnel, local government personnel and health workers. Guided by the WHO health systems building blocks, data was coded using Nvivo 12 and analysed thematically. Results were presented as narratives with excerpts to support the findings.ResultsCommunity leaders support vaccination among pastoralist nomads as part of their leadership and governance responsibilities. Language barrier between health workers and pastoralist nomads affects service delivery. Also, healthcare providers fear being attacked by pastoralist nomads hence are hesitant to visit their settlements for vaccination. With regards to health workforce, healthcare providers’ perceived use of derogatory words and discrimination against pastoralist nomads influence their vaccination uptake. On medical product, the lack of knowledge about diseases, severity and perceived negative effects about vaccines influence vaccination uptake. Inadequate funds and logistics at the district health directorates affects outreach to nomads during vaccinations. Leveraging existing partnership between the health services and community leaders, information centers, volunteers and butchers to send health information to pastoralist nomads influence vaccination uptake.ConclusionCommunity leaders support vaccination among pastoralist nomads. Nomadic pastoralist miss vaccination dues to language barrier, feel discriminated against, and lack information about diseases and vaccinations. Strengthening Ghana Health Service collaboration with leaders of pastoralist nomads could build trust, create awareness and overcome language barrier between healthcare providers and pastoralist nomads.

Language Barriers in Studying Medicine in English: Concerns and Attitudes of Clinical Phase Medical Students at the University of Tripoli

Despite being a foreign language, English is the medium of instruction in many Arab medical schools, creating language barriers and difficulties for students. The aim of this study was to assess the concerns and attitudes of students towards English as a medium of instruction (EMI) and to explore the barriers as well as opinions of students. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study that targeted students enrolled at the clinical phase at the faculty of medicine in the University of Tripoli using a self-administered questionnaire during the period from the 10th of March 2024 to the 24th of March, 2024. About 61 (36.1%) medical students were moderately comfortable with the English language, followed by 45 (26.6%) who were comfortable as opposed to 10 (5.9%) who were very uncomfortable. The majority 102 (60.4%) recommended changes to address the language concerns in the curriculum. Among the 66 participants who responded to this section, 33.3% recommended that the university should provide free English language courses and 161 (95.3%) stated they would choose to study medicine in English again. The study revealed that the majority of the participants did not feel that English is a significant barrier in their studies with 62.7% disagreeing with the existence of language barriers.

Language barriers and mental health problems of preschool children born very preterm in Germany.

We assessed whether behavioural and emotional problems of 5- to 6-year-old preschool children born very preterm (<32 weeks' gestation) are associated with an immigrant background and linguistic distance of their first language to the host country's official language, German. This is an observational longitudinal cohort study. Data are from the national multicentre German Neonatal Network cohort, including all very preterm births from 2009 onwards. A total of 3220 (n = 1570 female) children were followed up at preschool age; 629 (n = 324 female) of these had an immigrant background. Behavioural and emotional problems were assessed using the parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Mixed-effects models showed that immigrant status alone was not associated with children's behavioural and emotional problems. However, a higher linguistic distance of the children's first language to German was associated with higher SDQ total problem scores (coefficient = 0.008, 95% confidence interval 0.002, 0.015), after adjusting for known confounders. Language barriers in the form of linguistic distance between the first language of children born very preterm and countries' official languages are associated with increased risk for behavioural and emotional problems. More research is needed on how language barriers affect long-term developmental outcomes of immigrant children born very preterm.

A Review of Existing Sources for the Design of an Archaeological Underwater Cultural Heritage Database of Puglia Region (Italy)

Abstract. Underwater cultural heritage (UCH) in Italy is under-documented despite its significance. Creating a comprehensive UCH database is essential but faces challenges, such as complex documentation processes, data interoperability, and international standard adherence. This paper examines data models, standards, and the use of webGIS and databases for underwater cultural heritage documentation in Italy and globally. International documents like the 1996 ICOMOS Charter and the 2001 UNESCO Convention emphasize in-situ preservation. However, documentation efforts remain scattered, lacking a unified database. GIS technologies are vital for managing and analyzing UCH data but are underutilized for public access and tourism. Projects like Andar per Mare and Archim3des in the Puglia region aim to promote underwater cultural heritage using webGIS platforms. However, existing sources like CartaPulia face limitations, including a lack of standardization, specialized fields for underwater cultural heritage characteristics, and language barriers. The proposed solution involves creating a new data model based on standards, resulting in a bilingual geodatabase. This geodatabase will support scientific and tourism-focused webGIS applications, enhancing accessibility and promoting Italy's underwater cultural heritage. A unified database will prevent duplication, facilitate discoveries, and promote Italy's cultural heritage.

Exploring challenges in audiovisual translation: A comparative analysis of human- and AI-generated Arabic subtitles in Birdman.

Movies often use allusions to add depth, create connections, and enrich the storytelling. However, translators may face challenges when subtitling movie allusions, as they must render both meaning and culture accurately despite existing language and cultural barriers. These challenges could be further complicated by the use of available AI tools attempting to subtitle movie allusions, while probably unaware of existing cultural complexities. This research investigates these challenges using qualitative and descriptive quantitative approaches by analyzing the movie Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), comprising13.014 words, to identify the types of allusions used and compare the human- vs. AI (ChatGPT)-generated Arabic subtitles in terms of the subtitling strategies, their frequency, and quality. The results revealed that the movie used 52 Noun Phrase (NP) allusions, where the writer intertextually employed a proper name to convey meaning, and 8 Key-Phrase (KP) allusions, where the writer used phrases that convey implicit meaning easily perceived by members of the source culture (by referring to religious, literary, or entertainment texts). For NP allusions, both the human translator and AI opted for retentive strategies; however, the human translator's preference to add guidance/parentheses to mark NP allusions was distinct. Additionally, it was observed that AI used neologism to render technology-related allusions, which could be a suggested strategy for NP subtitling into Arabic. For KP allusions, while the human translator seemed to be cognizant of the idea that KP allusions typically require a change in wording, AI fell short. Specifically, the human translator employed reduction in 5 out of 8 KPs, opting for minimum change/literal translation only three times. Conversely, AI utilized literal translation in all 8 examples, despite its awareness of the allusion and its intricate meaning/reference. As for the FAR assessment, for NP allusions, it revealed minor semantic errors in AI's subtitles that did not affect the plot. Regarding KP allusions, AI's subtitles were penalized in 5 out of its 8 Arabic renditions, in contrast to the human translator. Most of the errors were serious semantic errors that likely disrupted the flow of reading the subtitles due to conveying irrelevant meanings in the movie's/scene's context. Despite its functionality, this study suggests adding an extra parameter to the FAR model: consistency, as it plays a role in enhancing audience involvement and understanding. Its absence, as observed in some AI instances, can be misleading.

Experiences and challenges of refugees from Ukraine in accessing healthcare and social services during their integration in Lithuania

BackgroundThe influx of Ukrainian refugees to Lithuania due to the ongoing conflict has created substantial challenges in healthcare and social services.ObjectiveTo identify the key challenges faced by Ukrainian refugees in accessing healthcare and social services in Lithuania.MethodsA qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 22 Russian-speaking female Ukrainian refugees residing in various regions of Lithuania. Data were collected between July and October 2022 and analyzed using inductive qualitative content analysis to identify key themes related to healthcare access, social services, and integration.FindingsRefugees reported significant barriers, including language difficulties, long waiting times for healthcare services, and inconsistent access to social services, particularly in smaller municipalities. Despite access to free healthcare, the quality and timeliness of services were often inadequate, exacerbating challenges for those with pre-existing health conditions. Psychological support services were underutilized, and language barriers impeded access to both healthcare and employment opportunities. Coordination between social and healthcare services was lacking, creating further difficulties for refugees in navigating essential services.ConclusionWhile Lithuanian authorities have provided critical support, significant gaps remain in healthcare access and social service coordination. Urgent improvements are needed in language support, psychological care, and healthcare accessibility, particularly in smaller municipalities. These findings highlight the need for targeted policies to address these challenges and ensure equitable access to services for all refugees. Future research should include more diverse refugee populations to guide comprehensive policy development.

Navigating Intercultural Communication Challenges: Addressing Language Barriers and Foreign Language Anxiety Among Thai Low-Cost Airline Ground Staff

Navigating Intercultural Communication Challenges: Addressing Language Barriers and Foreign Language Anxiety Among Thai Low-Cost Airline Ground Staff