Training healthcare workers and untrained interpreters in remote collaboration amidst COVID-19

In the context of the public health emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec in 2020, remote public service interpreting has become, within a few days, an essential practice for maintaining services to migrants and allophone refugees, a particularly vulnerable population. This study aimed to measure the impact of two training courses on remote collaboration for mediated consultations developed for healthcare workers and untrained interpreters.

A total of 79 healthcare workers and 65 untrained interpreters from the province of Quebec were recruited. They completed the trainings, offered as webinars, and answered the two scales (knowledge and self-efficacy) of the Questionnaire de connaissances sur l'interprétation de service publique à distance [Remote Public Service Interpreting Knowledge Questionnaire]. The study employed paired t-tests to assess the effectiveness of both webinars.

Findings reveal a positive impact immediately after completion and at a three-month follow-up. However, there was no significant enhancement in interpreters' self-efficacy over the medium term.

Given their modality (remote) and duration (30 min for healthcare workers and three hours for interpreters), the training courses are both effective and practical to implement.

This study innovatively promotes interprofessional collaboration in public service interpreting and explores online training's potential to enhance both individual and collective efficacy in the field.