Improving patient–provider communication: insights from interpreters

Abstract

Interpreters described three domains where physicians and patients were likely to differ, and where mutual lack of awareness of those differences could lead to misunderstandings. These were: (1) ideas about the patient's health problem; (2) expectations of the clinical encounter; and (3) verbal and non-verbal communication styles. Interpreters recommended that cultural competence training for physicians focus on raising awareness about potential sources of misunderstanding and about the difficulties inherent in medical translation; providing basic background knowledge of patients' countries of origin; and adapting to patients' communication styles. While physicians' own perceptions of communication difficulties are important for developing learner-centered training activities, interpreters' bilingual and bicultural position allows for the identification of communication barriers that may be difficult for physicians to recognize.

Asylum seekers' expectations of and trust in general practice: a qualitative study

“…5,[12][13][14][15] However, these studies did not attempt to link the views of the participants to the structure of the healthcare system that they came from. This study adds to that knowledge and explores further some of the issues that may be amenable to change, if GPs and other primary care staff are aware of the reasons for these views.…”

“…11 Other studies, as well as that of the present authors, 5 show that asylum seekers and refugees have different expectations of health care, including a lack of awareness of appointment systems, unrealistic expectations of access to high-tech medicine, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and easier access to antibiotics. 5,[12][13][14][15] However, the role of previous healthcare systems in shaping these expectations has been largely unexplored.…”

General practitioners’ views on consultations with interpreters: A triad situation with complex issues

“…The importance of competent interpretations in crosscultural encounters was clearly demonstrated by the GPs. It has previously been shown that patients who rated the interpreter as ''excellent ''or ''very good'' were more likely to rate the healthcare received as positive [15] and difficulties are best overcome with professional interpreters [16]. Interpreters' own views on cross-cultural meetings also indicate that the triad situation and the lack of relevant training for interpreters hold a number of problems [17].…”

Unlacing the entrepreneurial potential : exploring factors influencing entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurship education in emerging economies

“…Key informants possess special knowledge or have access to perspectives, experiences, or observations that are not directly available to the researcher (Hudelson, 2005). According to Tremblay (1957), key informants should ideally live up to the following criteria: 1) based on their role within the organization or community, key informants should have complete and specialized knowledge to the kind of information being sought by the researcher; 2) in addition to having access to the information desired, the informant should have absorbed the information meaningfully; 3) they are willing to communicate their knowledge to the interviewer and to cooperate as fully as possible; 4) they should be able to communicate their knowledge in a manner that is intelligible to the interviewer; and 5) they should be objective and unbiased.…”

“…Key informants possess special knowledge or have access to perspectives, experiences, or observations that are not directly available to the researcher (Hudelson, 2005).…”