Interaction—A missing piece of the jigsaw in interpreter-mediated medical consultation models. Issue 9 (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Shuangyu; Gerwing, Jennifer; Krystallidou, Demi; Rowlands, Angela; Cox, Antoon; Pype, Peter
• Is Part Of: Patient education and counseling. Volume 100:Issue 9(2017)
• Page Start: 1769
• Page End: 1771
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: Interpreter-mediated consultation -- Interaction -- Communication guidelines -- Interprofessional; Patient education -- Periodicals; Health counseling -- Periodicals; Health education -- Periodicals; Counseling -- Periodicals; Patient Education -- Periodicals; Éducation des patients -- Périodiques; Counseling -- Périodiques; Éducation sanitaire -- Périodiques; 615.5071
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2017.04.021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0738-3991

Abstract

Highlights: Guidelines for working with interpreters provide a quick and convenient toolkit. The oversight of co-construction in communication is limiting their usefulness. Interdisciplinary social and clinical research is required to advance knowledge. Sustainable and effective stakeholder network are needed to foster collaboration. Acknowledging professional interpreters as part of the healthcare team is key. Abstract: In 2015, at the International Conference on Communication in Healthcare in New Orleans, USA, we formed a symposium panel to discuss and debate how interdisciplinary research can inform interpreter-mediated medical consultation training. In all our work, a recurring theme is not just the strengths but also the shortcomings of the guidelines proposed in the textbooks and widely used in medical education. This paper is an account of our multidisciplinary reflections on a prominent issue of the lack of attention to interaction in communications, which shed light on the limitations of these guidelines and clinical communication models. We propose that an international network be established for all stakeholders to foster interprofessional and interdisciplinary collaboration for research and clinical interventions, and to inform training and policy making.