Working effectively with interpreters: a model curriculum for physician assistant students

Effective patient-provider communication is crucial to achieving good health care outcomes. To accomplish this with patients of limited English proficiency, learning to work effectively with interpreters is essential.

The primary goal of this study was to determine if physician assistant students could effectively use interpreters to communicate with Spanish speaking patients after implementation of a cultural competency and Medical Spanish curriculum.

In year one of a three year implementation process, a module for teaching students to work effectively with interpreters was developed and implemented in the Wake Forest University School of Medicine Department of Physician Assistant Studies. After four hours of orientation, practice and role play, students were observed and recorded during a standardized patient assessment and evaluated by clinicians as well as by trained, bi-lingual evaluators.

In the Class of 2007, 94% (43 students) and in the Class of 2008, 96% (47 students) demonstrated competence.

Our findings highlight the feasibility and usefulness of training students to work effectively with interpreters. Evaluation and feedback from students and faculty have been positive. Cost for this curriculum enhancement was reasonable, making it feasible to introduce the training into a wide variety of medical and allied health programs.