‘It depends on the consultation’: revisiting use of family members as interpreters for general practice consultations – when and why?
Jo Hilder A B , Ben Gray A , Anthony Dowell A , Lindsay Macdonald A , Rachel Tester A and Maria Stubbe AA Department of Primary Health Care and General Practice, University of Otago, Wellington, PO Box 7343, Wellington South, Wellington 6242, New Zealand.
B Corresponding author. Email: jo.hilder@otago.ac.nz
Australian Journal of Primary Health 23(3) 257-262 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY16053
Submitted: 14 June 2016 Accepted: 24 September 2016 Published: 11 November 2016
Abstract
Family members continue to be used as interpreters in medical consultations despite the well-known risks. This paper examines participant perceptions of this practice in three New Zealand clinics chosen for their frequent use of interpreters and their skill in using them. It is based on a detailed study of 17 video-recorded interpreted consultations and 48 post-consultation interviews with participants (5 doctors, 16 patients and 12 interpreters, including 6 family members). All participants expressed satisfaction with the communication. Analysis of the interviews explored what participants liked or valued about family member interpreters (FMIs). Key themes were the FMIs’ personal relationship and knowledge, patient comfort, trust, cultural norms, time efficiency and continued help outside the consultation. General practitioners (GPs) expressed awareness of potential risks and how to manage them, in contrast to patients and FMIs. Although the use of professional interpreters needs to be strongly promoted, a well-informed decision to use a family member is appropriate in some situations. GPs need to be well trained in how to assess and manage the risks. Rather than striving for ‘best practice’ (i.e. universal use of professional interpreters), it is better to aim for ‘good practice’ where a considered judgement is made about each situation on an individual basis.
Additional keywords: care of Limited English Proficiency Patients, communication barriers, interpreter services, translating.
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