Trained Medical Interpreters Can Reduce Treatment Errors

Errors in medical interpretation are common for patients with limited English proficiency (LEP), especially when the interpreter is a family member, claims a new study.

Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF; USA) conducted a cross-sectional study of transcribed audio-taped primary care visits that included 32 Spanish-speaking Latino patients and 14 clinicians. The transcripts were coded professionally for accurate and inaccurate interpretation text unit (TU) instances. Two internists then reviewed the transcripts and independently verified inaccurate TU instances, and rated their clinical significance as clinically insignificant, mildly, moderately, or highly clinically significant.

The results showed that accurate interpretation made up 70% of total coded TU’s and inaccurate interpretation made up 30%. Inaccurate interpretation occurred at twice the rate for ad hoc (54%) versus in-person professional (25%) and professional videoconferencing (23%) interpretation, due to more errors of omission and answers for patient or clinician. The mean number of errors per visit was 27, with 7.1% of errors rated as moderately/highly clinically significant. The study was published in the October 2015 issue of Medical Care.

“Inaccurate language interpretation in medical encounters is common and more frequent when untrained interpreters are used, compared with professional in-person or videoconferencing, which may increase access to higher quality medical interpretation services,” concluded lead author Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, MD, and colleagues. “Full deployment of professional interpretation capacity for LEP patients is a quality of care issue whose time has come.”

Medical interpreters provide language services to LEP patients, acting as conduits between them and medical professionals by orally translating information into a patient's native language in layman's terms. The medical interpreter then translates the patient's response back to the professional, using proper medical terminology to explain reasons for the medical visit and past medical and family history. At the same time they explain medical and surgical procedures, medical care instructions, provide drug information, and help schedule follow-up appointments.

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