Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Health Services

Advisor

Katie Callahan-Myrick

Abstract

In the United States, many patients cannot speak English well enough to communicate with their medical providers. Many of these patients use professional interpreter services offered by their medical organizations to help with communication, which can lead to miscommunication due to the translation process between patients, interpreters, and physicians, and to incorrect diagnosis and poor health outcomes for the patient. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of Spanish-speaking patients who used interpreter services with their physicians. The transmission model was the theoretical framework used to explore the experiences and outcomes for the participants. In this study, eight Spanish-speaking participants, who resided in the Gwinnett and Dekalb counties in Atlanta, Georgia, were interviewed about their experiences of using interpreter services with their physicians. These interviews were recorded, transcribed, and translated. Responses were analyzed and interpreted to develop codes, categories, and themes using inductive ground-up methodology. Respondents reported varied experiences and outcomes from their use of interpreter services. Some participants were instructed to use short phrases by the interpreters. As a result, they had limited communication with their physicians and did not receive timely diagnosis and treatment. This affected their overall health outcomes and future decisions to seek medical attention. Other participants did not experience these issues and reported no adverse outcomes from using interpreter services. The findings could inform the gaps in translation services and improve communication between patients and their physicians; leading to improved health outcomes and increased health-seeking behavior among this population.

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