Enhancing Medical Students' Interpreter Skills and Resource Knowledge: A Standardized Patient Simulation Intervention

Patients with Non-English Language Preference face significant barriers to healthcare, often due to inadequate use of professional medical interpreters. Despite evidence showing that medical interpreters improve patient outcomes, many healthcare providers lack training in effective medical interpreter use. This study evaluates the impact of the Med Interpreter website on first-year medical students' comfort and proficiency in working with interpreters during clinical encounters. The intervention involved a 30-minute presentation on the Med Interpreter website, which offers guidelines and resources for interpreter use in English and Spanish. Following the presentation, students participated in a simulated patient encounter using standardized patients and interpreters. Pre- and post-intervention surveys assessed changes in students' comfort, confidence, and understanding of interpreter use. A total of 98 out of 130 participants completed both surveys. Statistically significant improvements were observed in student comfort, confidence, and knowledge of interpreter guidelines and resources, highlighting the intervention's effectiveness. The results highlight the effectiveness of Med Interpreter in enhancing students' knowledge and skills related to interpreter use. This intervention demonstrates the importance of structured training in addressing language barriers in healthcare and underscores the potential for scalable tools like Med Interpreter to improve patient-provider communication and reduce health disparities.