Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Communication difficulties in multicultural clinical settings can be exacerbated by translators, but their actual impact on medical decisions has not been systematically evaluated. This study sought to determine the influence of translators participating in clinical encounters in which English-speaking clinicians offered amniocentesis to Spanish-speaking women by conducting systematic observations of 61 prenatal genetic consultations and recording translators’ training and background characteristics and patients’ amniocentesis decisions. Translators’ behavioral styles were classified according to 10 inductively determined criteria. Translators’ approaches were classified as Distant, Authoritative, or Missionary. Whereas the first category remained emotionally detached, the others sought to build rapport and trust with the patient. Quantitative analysis revealed statistically significant associations between translation styles that sought to engender trust and likelihood the pregnant woman agreed to amniocentesis. The authors conclude that translators’ affective approaches can influence whether patients accept or decline amniocentesis.

Keywords

cross-cultural communication U.S. Latinos medical interpretation amniocentesis decisions

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Beltran Avery, M. P. (2001). The role of the health care interpreter: An evolving dialogue. The National Council on Interpreting in Health Care Working Papers Series, April. Retrieved from http://www.ncihc.org/workingpapers.htm

Browner, C. H. , Preloran, H. M. , & Cox, S. J. (1999). Ethnicity, bioethics, and prenatal diagnosis: The amniocentesis decisions of Mexican-origin women and their partners. American Journal of Public Health, 89, 1658-1666.

Clarke, A. (1997). Prenatal genetic screening: Paradigms and perspectives. In P. S. Harper & A. J. Clarke (Eds.), Genetics, society and clinical practice (pp. 119-140). Oxford, UK: BIOS.

Cunningham, G. C. , & Tompkinson, D. G. (1999). Cost and effectiveness of the California prenatal screening program. Genetic Medicine, 1, 199-206.

Flores, G. , Laws, M. B. , Mayo, S. J. , Zuckerman, B. , Abreu, M. , Medina, L. , et al. (2003). Errors in medical interpretation and their potential clinical consequences in pediatric encounters. Pediatrics, 111, 6-14.

Fraser, F. C. (1974). Genetic counselling. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 26, 636-659.

Greb, A. (1998). Multiculturalism and the practice of genetic counseling. In D. Baker , J. Schuette , & W. Uhlmann (Eds.), A guide to genetic counseling (pp. 171-198). New York: John Wiley.

Harper, P. S. , & Clarke, A. J. (1997). Genetics, society, and clinical practice. Oxford, UK: BIOS.

Hornberger, J. , Itakura, H. , & Wilson, S. R. (1997). Bridging language and cultural barriers between physicians and patients. Public Health Reports, 112, 410-417.

10.

Kolker, A. , & Burke, M. B. (1994). Prenatal testing: A sociological perspective. Westport, CT: Bergin & Garvey.

11.

Michie, S. , & Marteau, T. (1996). Genetic counselling: Some issues of theory and practice. In T. Marteau & M. Richards (Eds.), The troubled helix: Social and psychological implications of the new human genetics (pp. 104-122). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

12.

National Council on Interpreting in Health Care . (2001). The terminology of health care interpreting: A glossary of terms. The National Council on Interpreting in Health Care Working Papers Series, October. Retrieved from http://www.ncihc.org/workingpapers.htm

13.

National Society of Genetic Counselors, Inc. (2005). Retrieved from http://www.nsgc.org/index.asp

14.

Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

15.

Rapp, R. (1999). Testing women, testing the fetus: The social impact of amniocentesis in America. New York: Routledge.

16.

Rothman, B. K. (1987). The tentative pregnancy: Prenatal diagnosis and the future of motherhood. New York: Viking.

17.

Williams, C. , Alderson, P. , & Farsides, B. (2002). Is non-directiveness possible within the context of antenatal screening and testing? Social Science & Medicine, 54, 339-347.

Impact of Interpreters’ Approach on Latinas’ Use of Amniocentesis

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References