Healthcare staffs perceptions of using interpreters: a qualitative study

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe how healthcare professionals experience and perceive the use of interpreters in their contacts with patients with whom they do not share a common language. Background: Language barriers lead to poor-quality care and fewer medical contacts. To avoid language barriers and their consequences, interpreters are recommended. However, communicating through an interpreter can be difficult. To develop effective interpreter service it is important to study healthcare staff's perceptions of using an interpreter. Methods: An explorative descriptive study design was used. The study was conducted in different healthcare settings in Sweden and included 24 healthcare staff, of whom 11 were physicians, 9 nurses, 2 physiotherapists and 2 assistant nurses. Data were generated through written descriptions of the use of interpreters in healthcare service and were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Findings: Two main categories emerged from the data: 1) aspects related to the interpreter and 2) organizational aspects. The study showed that having a face-to-face, professional, trained interpreter, with a good knowledge of both languages and of medical terminology, translating literally and objectively, was perceived positively. The organizational aspects that affected the perception were functioning or non-functioning technical equipment, calm in the interpretation environment, documentation of the patients' language ability, respect for the appointed time, and the level of availability and service provided by the interpreter agency. It is important to develop a well-functioning interpreter organization that offers trained interpreters with a professional attitude to improve and ensure cost-effective and high-quality encounters and care.

Perspectives Of Professional Interpreters Regarding Their Role And Attitude In The Healthcare Encounter.

“…Interpreters did not recommend telephone interpretation because of the lack of body language and the low quality of technical equipment, which is in accordance with previous studies of Arabic-speaking migrants , Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian-speaking migrants (Hadziabdic et al, 2009b) and different kinds of healthcare staff (Hadziabdic et al, 2010). However, the second new finding of this study was that most of the interpreters who were on the agencies' telephone priority lists were employed by agencies who only invest small sums in interpreters' authorisation, training development and opportunities, so many telephone interpreters had low-quality language skills and lacked a professional attitude, which negatively affected communication as well as patient safety and quality of healthcare.…”

“…However, the second new finding of this study was that most of the interpreters who were on the agencies' telephone priority lists were employed by agencies who only invest small sums in interpreters' authorisation, training development and opportunities, so many telephone interpreters had low-quality language skills and lacked a professional attitude, which negatively affected communication as well as patient safety and quality of healthcare. Despite this, across healthcare settings there is reliance on telephone interpretation (Hadziabdic et al, 2010, Dowbor et al, 2015 due to positive impacts on access to healthcare (Dowbor et al, 2015). Staff in the healthcare service need to be aware of the opportunity to learn from the interpreters' own perspectives when planning to sign a contract with an interpreter agency, in order that they specify requirements for a high level of competence from interpreters for both face-to-face and telephone interpretation, in accordance with the existing Swedish law (SFS, 2007:1091) and the International Code of Ethics for Medical Interpreters (IMIA, 2008).…”

“…and March 2104, by semi-structured interviews and written descriptions. The interview guide and instruction guide for written descriptions were developed based on literature review and experiences described in previous studies of migrants (Hadziabdic et al, 2009a, Hadziabdic and, healthcare staff (Hadziabdic et al, 2010, Hadziabdic et al, 2011 and family members' perceptions and experiences of using interpreters in a healthcare setting (Hadziabdic et al, 2013). Examples of the main interview questions and written instructions are: 1) Please describe the preparation that you do before an interpreting situation in healthcare, and 2) How do you experience your role before, during and after an interpreting situation in healthcare?…”

Immigrant women's experience of maternity services in Canada: A meta-ethnography

“…Using professional interpreters was recommended, as they have good knowledge of medical terms and systems and can facilitate effective and productive communication. This phenomenon is not unique to Canada (Hadziabdic et al, 2009(Hadziabdic et al, , 2010(Hadziabdic et al, , 2011. Moreover, studies in the United Kingdom and Sweden have shown that effectiveness of interpretation services is influenced by ethnocultural factors (Hadziabdic et al, 2011).…”

Language, Culture and Maternity Care: <i>‘Troubling’ Interpretation in an Institutional Context</i>

“…Rather, language interpretation is framed in a rights-based discourse, where it is suggested as a way to overcome barriers and promote equality by the law. Speaking particularly of health care, language interpretation is proposed as a way to increase patient participation and promote equal treatment and care (Hadziabdic et al 2010).…”