Misunderstandings: a qualitative study of primary care consultations in multilingual settings, and educational implications

Roberts, Celia; Moss, Becky; Wass, Val; Sarangi, Srikant; Jones, Roger

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2929.2005.02121.x

Cited by 110 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 17 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This is particularly important to bear in mind as interaction must be conducted in a specifi c language, and participants in an interethnic encounter oftentimes have unequal profi ciency levels. Numerous studies have shown that misunderstandings predominantly result from limited profi ciency in one or more of the languages of the participants in the interethnic encounter, especially the dominant language, including limited awareness of different contextualization cues (e.g., Bremer et al 1996 ;Birkner and Kern 2000 ;Roberts 2000 ;Roberts et al 2005 ). Roberts et al ( 2005 : 473), for instance, found in a study of 232 general practice consultations in four inner -London medical practices that lack of profi ciency in the languages involved in the encounters was the main problem in medical encounters in this multilingual community: " Twenty per cent of all the consultations we fi lmed contained misunderstandings caused by language/cultural differences, where talk itself is the problem.…”

Section: Language In " Intercultural Communication "mentioning

confidence: 99%

Intercultural Communication: An Overview

Piller

2012

The Handbook of Intercultural Discourse and Communication

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Section: Language In " Intercultural Communication "mentioning

confidence: 99%

Intercultural Communication: An Overview

Piller

2012

The Handbook of Intercultural Discourse and Communication

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Ethnic minority groups often have to undertake many aspects of their day-to-day lives with limited English or a mix of English with their first language (Roberts et al, 2005). The provision of high quality language interpretation services is therefore vital for fostering social inclusion and enabling access to public services, including healthcare.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seen but not heard – ethnic minorities’ views of primary health care interpreting provision: a focus group study

Barron

Holterman

Shipster

et al. 2010

Primary Health Care

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The aim of this study was to explore the awareness and views of members of the ethnic minority community towards primary health care interpreting provision in two localities in Hertfordshire. Background: Ethnic minority groups often have to undertake many aspects of their day-today lives with limited English. The provision of high quality language interpretation services is vital for enabling access to public services, including healthcare. The use of accredited or professional interpreters has been minimal within primary care and undermines the principle of equity in the National Health Service. The local Primary Care Trust and ethnic minority forums initiated this study. Methods: The overall research design was qualitative and data collection was undertaken using focus groups. Twenty-four participants from the Pakistani (Punjabi and Urdu speakers), Bangladeshi (Bengali speakers) and Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin speakers) communities took part in one of five focus groups. Ethnic minority members recruited participants, conducted the focus groups and translated the interviews after receiving in-depth training. Findings: Participants were unaware that healthcare professionals could access interpreting provision for their primary health care consultations, which were usually managed with the assistance of family members (including children) and friends. Both the appropriateness of using children and the potential compromising of confidentiality and privacy when using friends to interpret were concerns. Women discussed inventing illnesses rather than talking openly about embarrassing health issues in front of their children or husbands, which they suggested, may lead to depression or other mental health problems. Trust, accuracy, independence and confidentiality were important attributes participants expected in a professional interpreter whom they would prefer was from their own gender and culture.

show abstract

“…Effective communication ultimately is positively linked to the achievement of quality health care and positive health outcomes. Past research positively links effective communication with several indicators of quality health care and positive health outcomes such as patients' comprehension of diagnosis and treatment (Lukoschek et al 2003;Roberts et al 2005); patient satisfaction with the healthcare experience (Gallagher et al 2005;Schouten et al 2009); and improved self-care and adherence to treatment (Rivadeneyra et al 2001;Harrington 2004). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linguistic resources and strategies used in multilingual communication in HIV/AIDS care centres in Lesotho

Sobane¹,

Anthonissen²

2014

Stellenbosch Papers in Linguistics Plus

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper gives a description of multilingual practices in two HIV-care centres in Lesotho on the basis of interviews with both health care providers and some patients who make use of the services of these centres. It considers the importance of effective linguistic communication in HIV-care and the hazards posed to such communication when physicians do not share the first language of the patients and of others working in these health care facilities. It gives the insights gained in a recent study on the kinds of interventions developed to facilitate communication in such multilingual institutional settings. In one of the centres informal interpreters are appointed to assist in transfer of information during consultations; in the second centre interpreting is only casually available from bilingual staff members. Besides interpreting, participants reported engaging in a number of other mediating practices. Evidence gained from informal interpreting studies elsewhere suggests that more than literal translation is required to achieve the kind of communicative success that will ensure quality in the health care provided to a vulnerable community. This study agrees with such findings and has generated a number of suggestions for improving the management of the linguistic diversity in communication within such clinics. The paper focuses on the specific resources provided in the healthcare centres and on the strategies participants use to enhance medical communication.

show abstract

Misunderstandings: a qualitative study of primary care consultations in multilingual settings, and educational implications

Cited by 110 publications

References 17 publications

Intercultural Communication: An Overview

Intercultural Communication: An Overview

Seen but not heard – ethnic minorities’ views of primary health care interpreting provision: a focus group study

Linguistic resources and strategies used in multilingual communication in HIV/AIDS care centres in Lesotho

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About