Journal of Clinical Oncology
Volume 29, Issue 20, 2011, Pages 2801-2807

Interpretation in consultations with immigrant patients with cancer: How accurate is it? (Article)

Butow P.N.* , Goldstein D. , Bell M.L. , Sze M. , Aldridge L.J. , Abdo S. , Tanious M. , Dong S. , Iedema R. , Vardy J. , Ashgari R. , Hui R. , Eisenbruch M.
  • a University of Sydney, Transient Building F12, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia, Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-Based Decision-Making, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • b Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • c University of Sydney, Transient Building F12, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
  • d University of Sydney, Transient Building F12, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia, Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-Based Decision-Making, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • e University of Sydney, Transient Building F12, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia, Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-Based Decision-Making, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • f University of Sydney, Transient Building F12, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia, Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-Based Decision-Making, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • g University of Sydney, Transient Building F12, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia, Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-Based Decision-Making, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • h University of Sydney, Transient Building F12, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
  • i University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • j Concord Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • k Bankstown Hospital, Bankstown, NSW, Australia
  • l Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia, Blacktown Hospital, Blacktown, NSW, Australia
  • m Monash University, Caulfield East, VIC, Australia

Abstract

Purpose: Immigrants with cancer often have professional and/or family interpreters to overcome challenges communicating with their health team. This study explored the rate and consequences of nonequivalent interpretation in medical oncology consultations. Patients and Methods: Consecutive immigrant patients with newly diagnosed with incurable cancer, who spoke Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, or Greek, were recruited from the practices of 10 medical oncologists in nine hospitals. Their first two consultations were audio taped, transcribed, translated into English and coded. Results: Thirty-two of 78 participants had an interpreter at 49 consultations; 43% of interpreters were family, 35% professional, 18% both a professional and family, and 4% a health professional. Sixty-five percent of professional interpretations were equivalent to the original speech versus 50% for family interpreters (P = .02). Seventy percent of nonequivalent interpretations were inconsequential or positive; however, 10% could result in misunderstanding, in 5% the tone was more authoritarian than originally intended, and in 3% more certainty was conveyed. There were no significant differences in interpreter type for equivalency of interpretations. Conclusion: Nonequivalent interpretation is common, and not always innocuous. Our study suggests that there may remain a role for family or telephone versus face-to-face professional interpreters. Practice implications: careful communication between oncologists and interpreters is required to ensure optimal communication with the patient. © 2011 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

doctor patient relation China Physician-Patient Relations Communication Barriers medical assessment immigrant cancer patient Australia Medical Oncology Neoplasms human middle aged diagnostic accuracy priority journal Aged clinical practice Cultural Competency Arabs Humans male Emigrants and Immigrants adverse outcome female Greece Article interpreter service adult Translating major clinical study cancer diagnosis ethnicity Multilingualism
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79960261578&doi=10.1200%2fJCO.2010.34.3335&partnerID=40&md5=8fd4ea7d5fb5492d5405e92908218406
DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2010.34.3335
ISSN: 0732183X
Cited by: 39
Original Language: English