How we developed an effective e-learning module for medical students on using professional interpreters.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Equity
• Communication in Healthcare

Background:

• Language barriers negatively impact healthcare quality for non-native speakers.
• Professional interpreters are underutilized by healthcare providers.
• Training medical students on interpreter use increases their likelihood of utilizing these services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an e-learning module for medical students focused on professional interpreter utilization.
• To assess the module's impact on students' knowledge and self-efficacy regarding interpreter use in medical interviews.

Main Methods:

• An e-learning module featured video vignettes with different interpreter types (family, untrained staff, professional).
• Medical students responded to questions post-vignette, receiving expert feedback.
• Knowledge and self-efficacy scores were measured pre- and post-module in 281 fourth-year medical students.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in both knowledge and self-efficacy scores were observed post-module.
• Mean knowledge scores increased from 5.5 to 8.4 (p < 0.001).
• Mean self-efficacy scores rose from 4.9 to 7.0 (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• The e-learning module effectively enhanced medical students' knowledge and self-efficacy in using professional interpreters.
• Integrating such modules into medical curricula can promote interpreter use among future physicians.
• This initiative can contribute to more equitable healthcare for linguistically diverse patients.