Perceptions of professional Spanish medical interpretation during genomic sequencing results sessions

Explore Spanish-preferring participants' experiences with and perceptions of communication of genomic results through professional medical interpreters via multiple modes in the Clinical Sequencing Evidence-Generating Research consortium.

In this cross-site analysis, we described self-reported data from Spanish-preferring participants (n = 334) who completed a survey after genomic results sessions conducted with a professional medical interpreter present regarding their understanding of results, perceptions of results communication quality, perceived cultural concordance, and satisfaction with and perceptions of interpretation across interpreter modes (in-person, video, phone).

Overall, most respondents who had a Spanish interpreter present during their genomic results session reported: understanding the genomic results 'quite a bit' or 'extremely' well (68%), satisfaction with the language interpretation provided (94%), perceiving good quality interpretation (96%), and that the interpreter and clinical team worked well together (98%). Regarding cultural concordance, most respondents reported feeling equal respect (94%), cultural understanding (91%), ease (82%), and personal connection (67%) with both the interpreter and the clinical team. Across all interpreter modes, respondents' satisfaction and perceived quality of genomic results communication and of Spanish interpretation were high, and their perceived cultural concordance with interpreters and clinicians was similar. In open-ended responses, the factors most frequently described as influencing respondents' perceptions of interpretation centered on interpretation understandability and perceived accuracy, interpreters' kind demeanor and attentiveness to respondents' needs, and challenges with remote technology.

From the perspectives of Spanish-preferring patients and parents (of minors) across diverse settings, communication of genomic results through professional medical interpreters using in-person and remote (video and phone) modalities was well-received and involved both information exchange and interpersonal facets.

Remote interpretation with professional interpreters can promote quality, culturally-concordant communication in genomic settings. Attentiveness to maintaining call quality in remote sessions, along with providing interpreters of any mode with genetics-specific resources, may help facilitate patient satisfaction.