Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, 60153, USA.
Department of Interpreter Services, Loyola University Medical Center, Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, MacNeal Hospital, Maywood, 60153, USA.
BMC Med Educ. 2022 Jan 10;22(1):27. doi: 10.1186/s12909-021-03081-0.
Over 41 million people in the United States speak Spanish as their primary language, of which 16 million have limited English proficiency (LEP). It is well-established that language barriers contribute to health disparities and that the use of ad-hoc interpretation by untrained family members results in substandard care. We developed a novel interpreter training program for medical students to serve as in-person interpreters at a charitable, resident continuity clinic so as to overcome the language barrier in the delivery of healthcare to LEP patients.
The Medical Student Interpreter Training Program (MSITP) consists of three steps. First, fluent Spanish-speaking students shadowed a licensed interpreter. Second, students took a standardized phone exam to demonstrate language proficiency. Finally, students completed a three-hour training on the methodology and ethics of interpreting conducted by the Department of Interpreter Services.
Pre- and post-tests were administered to assess students' familiarity with the Interpreter Code of Ethics and interpreter skills. Familiarity with the Interpreter Code of Ethics increased significantly with all students reporting feeling comfortable (47%) or very comfortable (53%) after training. The pre- and post-tests included free response questions, which were administered to assess competence in the methodology and ethics of interpreting. The cohort's aggregate score increased by 35% after the training (Wilcoxon signed rank z-score = 2.53; p = .01).
Implementing the MSITP resulted in an increased number of trained, Spanish-speaking interpreters available to provide their services to LEP patients at an affiliated charitable clinic and throughout the university hospital. Unlike other program models which are time and resource-intensive, this program is replicable and easily managed by volunteers. The MSITP is an effective model for training students as medical interpreters to ensure the delivery of quality healthcare for LEP patients.
美国有超过 4100 万人以西班牙语为母语，其中 1600 万人英语水平有限。语言障碍导致健康差距的问题已得到充分证实，而且未经培训的家庭成员进行临时口译会导致护理质量下降。我们为医学生开发了一种新型口译员培训计划，让他们在一家慈善的居民连续性诊所担任现场口译员，以克服医疗保健服务中英语水平有限的患者的语言障碍。
医学学生口译培训计划（MSITP）包括三个步骤。首先，西班牙语流利的学生跟随有执照的口译员进行学习。其次，学生参加标准化电话考试，以证明语言能力。最后，学生完成由口译服务部提供的有关口译方法和道德规范的三小时培训。
进行了预测试和后测试，以评估学生对口译员道德准则和口译技能的熟悉程度。所有学生报告在培训后都感到舒适（47%）或非常舒适（53%），因此对《口译员道德准则》的熟悉程度显著提高。预测试和后测试都包含自由回答问题，旨在评估口译方法和道德规范方面的能力。在培训后，该队列的总分数增加了 35%（Wilcoxon 符号秩检验 z 分数=2.53；p=0.01）。
实施 MSITP 后，更多经过培训的讲西班牙语的口译员可以在附属慈善诊所和整个大学医院为英语水平有限的患者提供服务。与其他需要大量时间和资源的项目模式不同，该计划可以由志愿者复制和轻松管理。MSITP 是培训学生成为医学口译员的有效模式，可以确保为英语水平有限的患者提供高质量的医疗保健。
