Categories of translation services and their impact on the delivery of healthcare

Background: Language barriers occur when radiographers and patients do not share a native vocabulary. It has been established that these barriers can inhibit effective communication and comprehension of healthcare information, sometimes resulting in a lower overall standard of care and/or more limited access to healthcare compared to native speakers of a clinician’s language (Slade & Sergent, 2018).

Purpose: This poster critically examines interpreting services commonly used in health care e.g., bilingual staff, face to face professional interpreters, telephone interpreters, online interpreters and ad hoc interpreters, with focus on service delivery and their impact on patient satisfaction (Squires, Sadarangani & Jones, 2020).

Summary of Content: Current evidence indicates that each translation modality has its own strengths and limitations, dependent on clinical situation and patient preference. There is, therefore, no definitive mode that might be deemed as inherently superior. Clinicians must consider issues of urgency, professionalism and sensitivity when selecting a service whilst not losing sight of their professional, legal and ethical obligation for translational accuracy. For example, while rapport between a patient and a family member may result in more compassionate communication, it does not necessarily guarantee accuracy. Although accuracy can be improved via professional interpreters, with errors much less likely (Karliner, 2007), this can be impractical in an emergency. Telephone-based services offer cost-effectiveness and faster access to more languages, while online translation tools should be avoided in healthcare settings. Key practical improvements might include better understanding of available services, their advantages and limitations, and when their use is appropriate.

References:
Karliner, L.S., Jacobs, E.A., Chen, A.H. and Mutha, S. (2007) Do professional interpreters improve clinical care for patients with limited English proficiency? A systematic review of the literature. Health Services Research, 42(2), pp.727-754.
Slade, S. and Sergent, S.R. (2018) Overcoming barriers with patients with limited English proficiency. Annals of Emergency Medicine, 72(4), pp.372-374.
Squires, A., Sadarangani, T. and Jones, S. (2020) Strategies for overcoming language barriers in research. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 76(2), pp. 706–714.