Improving patient-provider communication: insights from interpreters

Area of Science:

• Medical Communication
• Cross-Cultural Healthcare
• Physician Training

Background:

• Effective patient-provider communication is crucial and often hindered by cross-cultural barriers.
• Trained medical interpreters are vital for overcoming these communication challenges.
• Interpreters offer unique insights into common communication problems, aiding physician skill development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore professional medical interpreters' perspectives on patient-provider communication difficulties.
• To identify specific areas where cultural misunderstandings arise in clinical settings.

Main Methods:

• Conducted key informant interviews with nine professional medical interpreters.
• Utilized a purposive sampling strategy at Geneva University Hospitals.

Main Results:

• Interpreters identified three primary domains of difference: health beliefs, clinical expectations, and communication styles.
• Lack of awareness regarding these differences can lead to significant misunderstandings.
• Interpreters highlighted the value of their bilingual and bicultural perspectives in identifying physician-unrecognized barriers.

Conclusions:

• Medical interpreters are valuable resources for understanding and addressing cross-cultural communication barriers.
• Cultural competence training for physicians should include awareness of potential misunderstandings, translation challenges, and diverse communication styles.
• Leveraging interpreter insights can improve patient-provider communication and enhance physician cultural sensitivity.