Patient-centred interpreting in medical settings
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A study on patient-centred interpreting of Chinese-speaking interpreters in medical settings
IRAS ID
195315
Contact name
Wei (Angela) Zhang
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Surrey
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
In recent years, the notion of patient-centred care (PCC) has been promoted in healthcare settings across different countries including the UK, although its relationship with improved service outcomes is, to some extent, still under debate. Some scholars from the field of Interpreting Studies have addressed this notion as well.
The engagement with this concept in Interpreting Studies can be traced back to the debate about role that the interpreter should play to promote a good medical outcome. We are in need of more empirical studies on what the reality is, what problems and challenges are there, and what are the solutions and indications for future training. However, there is little empirical research relating to the role of the interpreter in medical settings, particularly in Britain, where an increasing number of immigrants is adding to the burden of delivering medical services to all ethnic groups.
Therefore, we are facing a significant research gap in empirical studies on medical interpreter’s role in UK.
This project aims to investigate the application of patient-centred approaches to interpreter-mediated encounters (IMEs). Specifically the project seeks to explore the extent to which background knowledge on PCC affects the interpreter’s and the practitioner’s communication behaviours, the interpreter’s role and interpreting strategies, and to provide a conceptual framework for future training. The focus of the study will be on Chinese interpreters in the UK medical context, involving three types of participants: the practitioner, the Chinese-speaking patient, and the interpreter.
REC name
London - Riverside Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0159
Date of REC Opinion
17 Mar 2017
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion