Using interpretation services during clerkships.

Area of Science:

• Medical education
• Healthcare communication
• Patient advocacy

Background:

• Professional interpreters improve health outcomes for patients facing language barriers.
• Healthcare providers often hesitate to utilize professional interpreters.
• Student training enhances knowledge of interpreter use, but application of skills is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore medical students' perspectives on managing language barriers during clerkships.
• To understand how students apply interpreter competencies gained during training.
• To identify factors influencing the use of professional interpreters by students.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative interviews were conducted with medical students in the Netherlands.
• Participants included students who had received interpreter training (n=8) and those who had not (n=8).
• Interviews focused on experiences with language barriers and interpreter use during clerkships.

Main Results:

• Trained students did not report using interpretation services during clerkships.
• Supervisors and other staff members were identified as barriers to interpreter service utilization.
• Lack of consistent application of learned skills was observed.

Conclusions:

• Medical students do not independently utilize professional interpretation services during clerkships.
• Healthcare staff and supervisors act as role models and gatekeepers for interpreter use.
• Training in professional interpreter utilization should extend to all healthcare staff, not just students.