Social Science and Medicine
Volume 69, Issue 2, 2009, Pages 210-214

Arranging and negotiating the use of informal interpreters in general practice consultations: Experiences of refugees and asylum seekers in the west of Ireland (Article)

MacFarlane A.* , Dzebisova Z. , Karapish D. , Kovacevic B. , Ogbebor F. , Okonkwo E.
  • a National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
  • b National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
  • c National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
  • d National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
  • e National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
  • f National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland

Abstract

This paper focuses on the work involved for service users in arranging and negotiating the use of informal interpreters from their social networks for general practice consultations. The data are drawn from a participatory learning and action research study, carried out in the west of Ireland. Qualitative data were gathered using a peer researcher model from a 'hard to reach' community of Serbo-Croat and Russian refugees and asylum seekers (n = 26). The findings elucidate that there is a tension for service users between the experienced benefits of having a trusted friend/family member present to act as their interpreter and the burden of work and responsibility to manage the language barrier. Participants emphasize that, for them, the use of informal interpreters can be inadequate and problematic and can leave them worried, frustrated and with experiences of error and misdiagnosis. Overall, they state a clear preference for the use of professional, trained interpreters in general practice consultations which is currently unavailable to them in routine Irish general practice consultations. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Asylum seekers language barriers Informal interpreters Refugees General practice Ireland

Index Keywords

personal experience Russia general practice Physician-Patient Relations Communication Barriers Eurasia refugee public health service Europe action research Refugees language ability social network social interaction Western Europe social support migrants experience language negotiation process asylum seeker Humans Ireland consultation Interviews as Topic male social problem female population research Article help seeking behavior interpreter service Serbia Health Services Accessibility diagnostic error medical care Multilingualism Family Practice
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-67649385773&doi=10.1016%2fj.socscimed.2009.04.022&partnerID=40&md5=1487081847df915d991ecf7764f7b631
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.04.022
ISSN: 02779536
Cited by: 39
Original Language: English