The Roles of medical interpreters in intensive care unit communication: A qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To understand healthcare team perceptions of the role of professional interpreters and interpretation modalities during end of life and critical illness discussions with patients and families who have limited English proficiency in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods

We did a secondary analysis of data from a qualitative study with semi-structured interviews of 16 physicians, 12 nurses, and 12 professional interpreters from 3 ICUs at Mayo Clinic, Rochester.

Results

We identified 3 main role descriptions for professional interpreters: 1) Verbatim interpretation; interpreters use literal interpretation; 2) Health Literacy Guardian; interpreters integrate advocacy into their role; 3) Cultural Brokers; interpreters transmit information incorporating cultural

SUBMITTER: Suarez NRE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8068732 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature