Communicating Through Family Members: Patients’ Experiences With Informal Interpreting in General Practice

• In Event: Interpersonal Communication in the Health Care Context: Patients and Providers in Interaction

Abstract

The use of informal interpreters is widespread internationally and daily practice among Turkish migrant patients in the Netherlands. However, research on interpreter-mediated medical communication from the perspective of patients is scarce and mostly a-theoretical. Therefore the aim of this study was to explore the perspective of Turkish-Dutch GP patients on informal interpreting from an integrated theory base, focusing on interpreters’ roles, trust and power. Findings from 21 semi-structured interviews with first generation Turkish-Dutch female GP patients show that besides translating, informal interpreters are expected to and perform the roles of advocates and caregivers. Furthermore, patients trust informal interpreters more than professional interpreters and feel empowered by them during consultations. This study contributes to theory building by linking interpreters’ roles to trust and power and could also be used by policy makers for design and implementation of effective interventions to improve health care delivery to patients with insufficient language ability.

Authors

• Rena Zendedel, University of Amsterdam

• Barbara Schouten, ASCoR, U of Amsterdam

• Julia C.M. van Weert, ASCoR, U of Amsterdam

• Bas van den Putte, ASCoR, U of Amsterdam