In:Interpreting in Legal and Healthcare Settings: Perspectives on research and training
Edited by Eva N.S. Ng and Ineke H.M. Crezee
[Benjamins Translation Library 151] 2020
► pp. 287–311
Chapter 12Overcoming language barriers in the Spanish healthcare
context
Published online: 3 June 2020
https://doi.org/10.1075/btl.151.12val
https://doi.org/10.1075/btl.151.12val
Abstract
The progression towards multicultural societies
impacts on the quality of communication between professionals and
their clients. This chapter focuses on the analysis of communication
in a specific setting, namely the Spanish healthcare system, and
concludes that language is a significant barrier to optimal patient
outcomes. An analysis is given of one of the approaches used to
mitigate the language barriers between medical professional and
patient: INTER+MED, a project which aimed to design training for,
coordinate and monitor a team of interlingual and intercultural
mediators working in health centres in the Madrid region of central
Spain. An analysis of the data obtained from surveys of patients and
professionals is presented, followed by a discussion of themes which
emerged from the interpreter observation forms pertaining to
specific ethnic groups.
Keywords: healthcare, mediation, interpreting, language barriers
Article outline
- 1.Introduction: Historical perspective
- 2.The INTER+MED Project: Main objectives and methodology
- 3.Developing the INTER+MED Project
- 4.Results
- 4.1Results from the surveys with users
- 4.2Data obtained from the surveys carried out with healthcare professionals
- 4.3Analysis of the recorded consultations and observation
forms
- 4.3.1Care for patients of Romanian origin
- 4.3.2Care for patients of Nigerian origin
- 4.3.3Care for the Chinese population
- 4.3.3.1Management of consultation times
- 4.3.3.2Relationship between doctor and Chinese patients
- 4.3.3.3Training of the interpreter/mediator
- 5.Conclusions and suggestions for future action
Notes References
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