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Emergency Department Presentations by International Migrants Requiring Interpreter Service: An Observational Study
Ya-Ling Huang1,2,3,4, Amy Lynn Sweeny3, Dinesh Palipana3,5,6
1School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Southern Queensland, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.
Emergency Medicine Australasia : EMA
|June 5, 2025
Summary
Many international migrants in emergency departments (EDs) need interpreters, but services are underutilized. This study highlights a gap between interpreter needs and actual use in EDs, suggesting further research into utilization barriers.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
- Medical Sociology
Background:
- International migrants often face communication barriers in healthcare settings.
- Effective communication is crucial for equitable and safe emergency department (ED) care.
- Interpreter services are vital for addressing language disparities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the provision and utilization of interpreter services for international migrants in public emergency departments (EDs).
- To identify the gap between the need for and actual use of interpreter services in the ED setting.
Main Methods:
- Observational study design.
- Utilized health service data from two public EDs.
- Analyzed patient presentation data from 2019-2021.
Main Results:
- A total of 4560 patients required interpreter services.
- In an 18-month subset, interpreters were requested for 47 out of 2509 patients.
- Only 38 patients received interpreter services, indicating low utilization.
Conclusions:
- A significant discrepancy exists between the demand for and utilization of interpreter services in EDs.
- Barriers to interpreter service utilization require further investigation.
- Understanding decision-making processes is key to improving access for migrant populations.
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