Unity in diversity: mapping healthcare interpreting studies (2007-2017)

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Communication
• Translation and Interpreting Studies
• Medical Linguistics

Background:

• Healthcare interpreting is crucial for equitable access to medical services.
• A growing body of research addresses healthcare interpreting, yet its evolution requires systematic analysis.
• Understanding the research landscape informs future study directions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the evolution of healthcare interpreting studies published in SSCI and A&HCI journals from 2007 to 2017.
• To categorize existing research thematically and methodologically.
• To propose future research directions for the field of healthcare interpreting.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of articles published in SSCI and A&HCI indexed journals between 2007 and 2017.
• Selection of 40 articles from 23 journals across translation, interpreting, linguistics, communication, and healthcare studies.
• Thematic classification into socio-political background, practice, and education/training; methodological classification into empirical and non-empirical research.

Main Results:

• Research themes cover socio-political contexts, practical aspects, and educational frameworks of healthcare interpreting.
• Methodological approaches range from pure empirical to pure non-empirical research designs.
• The analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the sub-field's development over a decade.

Conclusions:

• Future research should prioritize interdisciplinary integration between Translation & Interpreting (T&I) and healthcare communities.
• Developing interdisciplinary perspectives on the socio-political dimensions of healthcare interpreting is essential.
• Expanding specialty-based, informed, and driven research is recommended for advancing the field.