Affiliation:
1. School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
2. School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Over 25 million people in the USA have limited English proficiency (LEP). Interpreters are often used to facilitate communication with health care providers. Little is currently known about interpreter quality.
Objective
To explore the quality of telephone interpretation during medication consultations between Hmong clients and their pharmacists.
Methods
This descriptive study analyzed transcripts from videos of consultations between six triads of Hmong patients, pharmacy students and interpreters. Analysis was divided into two segments: (1) pharmacy: communication from student pharmacist the interpreter to patient and (2) patient: communication from patient to interpreter to student pharmacist. Researchers coded transcripts separately then compared codes.
Key findings
The six encounters yielded 496 communications with 275 discrepancies including omissions, additions, and word substitutions. Pharmacy to patient communications included, 45% (118/262) of omissions, 27.5% (72/262) of substitutions, and 15.6% (41/262) of additions. The patient to provider communications included, 8.1% (19/234) of omissions, 6.0% (14/234) of substitutions, and 4.2% (10/234) of word additions. Some omissions, additions, and substitutions in the pharmacy to patient communications were classified as potentially clinically relevant. Significantly, substantial discrepancies between the student pharmacists’ comments and the interpretation to patients had potential for hindering relationship building between patients and their providers.
Conclusions
Pharmacists may assume that the presence of an interpreter ensures accurate communication from pharmacist to patient and from patient to pharmacist. This study confirms that those assumptions may not be valid. These findings highlight the need to improve pharmacy education and interventions to improve pharmacist communication with LEP patients.
Funder
John A. Hartford Foundation
Clinical and Translational Science Award
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Subject
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,Health Policy,Pharmaceutical Science,Pharmacy
Cited by
10 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献