Background: This study evaluated the perceived benefits of using professional and I volunteer language interpreters with diverse health care backgrounds in an immigrant I dental hygiene clinic where the majority of clients have limited English proficiency. I Methods: An original survey was distributed to dental hygiene students (N = 26), I faculty (N = 9), and interpreters (N = 35) involved in the immigrant clinic between September 2016 and April 2017. Closed-ended questions were summarized using descriptive statistics. Open-ended questions were examined for common themes. This project was approved by the Research Ethics Board (REB # 2016-4076). Results: Response rates were as follows: dental hygiene students (84.6%), faculty supervisors (77.8%), professional interpreters (100%), and volunteer interpreters (24.2%). All faculty (100%) and 95% of students reported working with interpreters, all of whom had backgrounds in health care; 84.6% of faculty and 71.4% of students preferred to collaborate with untrained volunteer interpreters, specifically, those who were dental students. Both untrained volunteer and professional interpreters felt they aided in the treatment of clients in a culturally competent manner and their assistance was an overall benefit to both the student and client. Faculty (85.7%) and students (66.7%) reported they would not feel comfortable treating an immigrant client with limited English proficiency without an interpreter. Conclusions: This study revealed that interpreters with various health care backgrounds are useful in an immigrant dental hygiene clinic. The untrained volunteer interpreters with dental backgrounds were preferred over professionally trained interpreters. © 2018 Canadian Dental Hygienists Association.

Oral health Barriers to Care Immigrant culturally competent Refugees Access to care At risk population Dental hygiene

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