Honors Theses
Date of Award
Spring 5-9-2020
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Modern Languages
First Advisor
Felice Coles
Second Advisor
Luanne Buchanan
Third Advisor
Douglas Sullivan-Gonzalez
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
Medical interpreters are important in the healthcare community. Many studies have focused on the consequences of not having an interpreter. A variety of problems can be caused by "language brokering" when no interpreter is available. These studies will be discussed in the literature review. Many states have requirements to become certified as an interpreter, and the selection criteria is what makes a person a “good” interpreter. Previous research, such as that by Chan et al., has shown how different styles of interpreting can affect the quality of health care. This study focuses on how healthcare personnel and their patients view different styles of interpreting, and if healthcare workers would take the opportunity to learn Spanish if given the chance. When possible, healthcare workers and patients typically prefer an in-person interpreter, but cost and time can be barriers. When no in-person interpreter is available, video interpreting serves as a good alternative because it still allows the interpreter to evaluate the body language of the patient. However, the interpreter objectivity should be maintained and not blocking anyone from communicating appropriately. Telephonic interpreting still serves as an affordable option, and many healthcare workers know how to use it and have used it in the past. If Spanish classes were a part of healthcare training, it appears that healthcare workers would choose to take them. The conclusions that I draw from my investigation yield insights into the importance of certified interpreters in a healthcare setting.
Recommended Citation
Hayslip, Meg, "Healthcare Workers' Perceptions of Different Types of Interpreters in the Gulf South" (2020). Honors Theses. 1399.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/1399
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.