Informal interpreting in Dutch general practice

Abstract

When health care providers and migrant patients do not share a common language, informal interpreters - usually family members of the patients - come along to bridge the language gap. While patients usually feel comfortable with having an informal interpreter, this type of interpreter-mediated communication is shown to be problematic for several reasons. First, the different and sometimes incompatible roles of informal interpreters lead to frictions between the patient, the provider and the interpreter. Also, trust and control issues are at stake. This dissertation takes an integrative approach to studying informal interpreter-mediated communication in general practice (GP), by taking into account the three perspectives (the GPs’, the patients’ and the informal interpreters’). Interpreters’ roles, perceived control of the consultation and trust in the informal interpreters are the main concepts of the study. Using mixed research methods (i.e., qualitative interviews, observational research and survey), this dissertation provides a thorough investigation of interpreter-mediated medical communication