Degree Name
BS
Department
Public Health
College
Life Sciences
Defense Date
2023-03-06
Publication Date
2024-04-28
First Faculty Advisor
Robbie Chaney
First Faculty Reader
Jeff Glenn
Honors Coordinator
Len Novilla
Keywords
healthcare, language barrier, Spanish, medical interpretation, cultural barriers, nursing, health communication, health resources
Abstract
Introduction: Professional medical interpretation has been found to improve communication quality and health outcomes for patients with LEP. There are over 16 million LEP Spanish-speakers in the United States, yet the literature indicates that professional interpretation is lacking and underutilized in many clinical settings. Study Aims: Based on gaps in the literature pertaining to the perspectives of nurses and the cultural factors that influence patient experience, this study aims to qualitatively analyze the matter from the perspectives of both nurses and Spanish-speaking patients. The purpose of this study is to identify barriers to the utilization of professional interpreters, especially by finding the intersections between patient and provider experience. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with n=16 individuals, 8 nurses at an Emergency Department and 8 Spanish-speakers recruited from a local community center. Interview transcripts were coded and analyzed using Grounded Theory to identify major barriers and their influence on the behaviors of both patients and clinicians. Results: The central barriers identified by this study relate to the perceived accuracy of interpretation, the processes and resources available to clinicians, and the family dynamics of Spanish-speaking patients. Conclusions: This study indicates that the underutilization of professional interpretation could be related to a lack of resources for both patients and clinicians. Future research should consider the identified barriers which need to be addressed to promote effective communication in clinical settings across the Spanish-English language barrier.
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Briggs, Magdalena Scribner, "Just “Getting By” – Understanding Resource Deficits and Barriers to Medical Interpretation from the Perspectives of Spanish-Speaking Patients and Emergency Department Nurses" (2024). Undergraduate Honors Theses. 395.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/studentpub_uht/395