Doctor–patient consultations in dyadic and triadic exchanges

Abstract

This article presents the results of a study on doctor–patient interaction in dyadic and triadic exchanges. The analysis is based on transcripts of recordings done at healthcare centres in northern Madrid, Spain, and Minneapolis, USA. The methodological approach is that of institutional discourse analysis as developed by Drew and Heritage (Drew & Heritage 1992; Heritage 1995, 1997; Drew & Sorjonen 1997). Three different types of doctor–patient interaction are examined: (1) doctor/foreign-language patient; (2) doctor/ foreign-language patient/ad hoc interpreter; (3) doctor/ foreign-language patient/trained interpreter. Topics such as the assignment of participant roles, changes in the general structure, turn-taking, and asymmetrical relationships will be explored. The study is mainly descriptive and qualitative, but also includes some comparative quantitative analyses.

Overcoming Language Barriers for Pediatric Surgical Patients and Their Family Members

“…This multidisciplinary approach to improve communication across the care continuum for the patient and his or her family members reflects the application of the appropriate dimensions from The Model. A review of the literature validated the importance of using professional interpretation services 8‐11 …”

Interpreter-mediated dentistry

“…The roles of professional and lay interpreters have gained increasing attention as a focus of discussion and empirical research, particularly in high stakes contexts such as medical, police and legal settings (Bot, 2005;Hale, 2007;Bolden, 2000) with recent calls for -further education and support for patient, clinicians and interpreters to ensure effective communication across language barriers‖ (Fernandez and Schenker 2010, p.140). While the dyadic interactional encounter in doctor-patient consultations was the initial focus of interactional analysis, other multi-party configurations in medicine, particularly those concerned with triadic encounters, are receiving *Manuscript (EXCLUDING author details) Click here to view linked References increasing attention (Angellini, 2004;Brua, 2008;Clemente, 2009;Hsieh, 2010;Valero Garcés, 2005).…”

Third party interaction in the medical context: Code-switching and control

“…Research on triadic interaction in the multilingual medical consultation involves studies on the presence of an interpreter in consultations in which the provider and patient lack language concordance necessitating an interpreter to mediate communication between the two (Cambridge, 1999; Davidson, 2000, 2001; Hsieh, 2007; Pasquandrea, 2011; Valero Garcés, 2005). Some types of interpreters seem to lead to better patient care outcomes than others.…”

“…Some types of interpreters seem to lead to better patient care outcomes than others. Valero Garcés (2005) demonstrates differences between triadic interactions involving interpreters of two types. The first type involves the husband of the patient who acts as an ad hoc interpreter and the second type involves a trained interpreter.…”