Working experiences of remote interpreters in health care settings-insights from Austria and Germany

The rise in linguistically diverse patient populations has introduced significant challenges in healthcare due to language barriers. Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) has emerged as a cost-effective solution in healthcare settings. However, its impact on interpreters, particularly the specific enabling and hindering factors from their point of view remains underexplored. For example, in some studies, VRI interpreters report higher stress and job dissatisfaction. We hypothesize that interpreters' work experience and supervision attendance mitigate negative effects. We tested this hypothesis using a quantitative approach. Additionally, we analyzed qualitative data to uncover more enabling and hindering factors.

A sample of 87 interpreters working in Austria and Germany was included in this multi-methods study. Stress, job dissatisfaction, work experience, and supervision were analyzed using correlations and group comparisons. Responses to open-ended questions were analyzed using thematic content analysis to identify enabling and hindering factors, with network analysis exploring their interconnections.

Longer work experience correlated with lower stress. Supervision had no significant effect on stress or job satisfaction. Thematic content analysis identified 21 factors affecting VRI: While VRI enhances efficiency and emotional distance, interpreters face technical problems and difficulties arising from the lack of physical presence. Network analysis confirmed that VRI settings are characterized by a close interplay between these enabling and hindering factors.

Strategies for using VRI can be derived from these data. VRI is an efficient alternative to in-person interpreting, with challenges that can be mitigated. Training healthcare personnel in handling VRI and optimizing VRI conditions can contribute to better healthcare outcomes.