Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-2lccl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T10:35:54.230Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A review of the literature surrounding the provision of interpreters in health care, focusing on their role in translating information for non-English-speaking cancer patients and issues relating to informed consent

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2007

Niamh Gargan  and
Janette Chianese
Niamh Gargan
Affiliation:
University of the West of England, Bristol
Janette Chianese*
Affiliation:
University of the West of England, Bristol
*
Correspondence to: Janette Chianese, School of Allied Health Professions, University of the West of England, Glenside Campus, Room 2K05, Blackberry Hill, Bristol BS17 1DD, UK.E-mail: Janette.Chianese@uwe.ac.uk
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Informed consent is a fundamental principle of health care ethics. All patients should have equal opportunities in accessing information to help them make informed decisions about their treatments.

Literature on informed consent, translators in health care, non-English-speaking patients and the importance of communication and information, most specifically in radiotherapy, were reviewed. Western studies published between 1995 and 2005 were accessed and filtered though two eligibility screens and a critique framework to assess quality.

The evidence suggested that many non-English-speaking patients are not in a position to give true informed consent due to lack of interpreters. This may lead to health care professionals giving treatment without full consent. Written information for radiotherapy patients was often only available in English, apart from inner city areas.

There appears to be a scarcity of professional interpreters used in the health care setting; the most common practice is to use family members and friends to interpret. This practice results in breach of patient confidentiality, extra pressure on family members and filtration of information.

This patient group is often excluded from certain treatment opportunities such as clinical trials. Ideally, a fully accessible professional interpreting service should be available to allow non-English patients equal rights in accessing appropriate health care options and treatments.

Keywords

informed consentnon-English-speaking patientsradiotherapytranslators
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice , Volume 6 , Issue 4 , December 2007 , pp. 201 - 209
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bakker, M, Weug, D, Crommelin, M, Lybeert, M.Information for the radiotherapy patient. Radiography 1999; 5:99–106.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ionising radiation (Medical exposure) Regulations 2000. London: The stationary Office.Google Scholar
Schafer, C, Herbst, M.Ethical aspects of patient information in radiation oncology. Strahlentherapie und onkologie. 2003; 7:431–440.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coyler, H, Hlahla, T.Information and support radiographers: a critical review of the role and its significance for the provision of cancer services. J Radiother Pract 1999; 1:117–124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gibbs, V.Informed consent: a review of the current guidelines. Synergy Dec. 2003;4–6.Google Scholar
Phelan, M.Parkman, S.How to do it: work with an interpreter. BMJ 1995; 311:555–557.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hammick, M, Featherstone, C, Benrud-Larson, L.Information giving procedures for patients having radiotherapy: a national perspective of practice in the United Kingdom. Radiography 2001; 7:181–186.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parahoo, K.Nursing research: Principles, Process and Issues. Basingstoke: Macmillan Press Ltd, 2004.Google Scholar
Burns, N, Grove, SK.The Practice of Nursing Research, Conduct, Critique and Utilisation. W.B. Saunders, London, 4th edition 2001.Google Scholar
Abbott Burnard, P, Morrison, P.Nursing Research in Action, Developing Basic Skills, 2nd edition. London: Macmillan, 1994.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fink, A.Conducting Research Literature Reviews: From Paper to the Internet. New York: Sage Publications, 1998.Google Scholar
Hek, G, Judd, M, Moule, P.Making Sense of Research: An Introduction for Nurses. London: Cassell, 2002.Google Scholar
Cormack, D.The Research Process in Nursing. London: Blackwell Science publishing, 1996.Google Scholar
Evans, D, Kowanko, I.Literature reviews: evolution of a research methodology. Aust J Adv Nurs 2000; 18 (2):33–38.Google ScholarPubMed
Faden, R, Beauchamp, T.The History and Theory of Informed Consent. New York: Oxford University press, 1986.Google Scholar
Chatfield, D, Gelling, L.Informed consent to research: the role of the research nurse. Clinical Research Focus 2001; 12:7.Google Scholar
Kagan, A.Informed consent. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2004; 59 (3):634–636.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Picano, E.Informed consent and communication of risk from radiological and nuclear medicine examinations: how to escape from a communication inferno. BMJ 2001; 329.Google Scholar
Woloshin, S, Bickell, NA, Schwartz, LM, Gany, F, Welch, HG, Gilbert, . Language barriers in medicine in the United States. JAMA 1993; 273 (9):724–728.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jones, D. AChange for the Better. London: Hodder and stroughton, 2000.Google ScholarPubMed
www.doh.gov.uk/consentGoogle Scholar
Hubert, A, Kantor, G, Dilhuydy, J, Toulouse, C, Germain, C, Le Polles, G, Salamon, R, Scalliet, P.Patient information about radiotherapy: a survey in Europe. Radiother Oncol 1997; 103–107.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mavroforou, A, Giannoukas, A, Mavrophoros, D, Michaloditakis, E.Physician’s liability in intervention radiology and endovascular therapy. Eur J Radiol 2003; 46:240–243.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mavroforou, A, Giannoukas, A, Mavrophoros, D, Michaloditakis, E.Liability in prenatal ultrasound screening. Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2003; 21:525–528.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hammick, M, Smith, J, Corsini, L, Hamlyn, L, Pierce, V.Radiotherapy patients in the United Kingdom: meeting cultural and spiritual needs. J Cancer Care 1996; 113–115.Google Scholar
Smith, G.Part 3: autonomy, paternalism, advocacy and consent. J Radiother Pract 1999; 1:153–158.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Airey, C.National surveys of NHS patients—cancer: national overview 1999/2000. London: Department of health, 2002.Google Scholar
Gerrish, K.The nature and effect of communication difficulties arising from interactions between district nurses and south Asian patients and their carers. Jnl Adv Nursing 2001; 33:566–574.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gerrish, K, Chau, R, Sobowale, A, Birks, E.Bridging the language barrier: the use of interpreters in primary care nursing. Health and social care in the community 2004; 12:5; 407–413.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rhodes, P, Nocon, A.A problem of communication? Diabetes care among Bangladeshi people in Bradford. Health Soc Care Community 2003; 11 (1):45–54.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Titmarsh, K.Language lab. Nurs Stand 2002; 17 (6):20–21.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Office for National Statistics March 2005.Google Scholar
Asylum seeker newsletter Number 14a July 2004: Department of Health.Google Scholar
Bischoff, A, Tonnerre, C, Eytan, A, Bernstein, M, Loutan, L. Addressing language barriers to health care, a survey of medical services in Switzerland. Sozial-und praventivmedizin 1999; 248–256.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Britton, A, McKee, Black, N, McPherson, K, Sanderson, C, Bain, C.Threats to applicability of randomised trials: exclusion and selective participation. J Health Serv Res Policy 1999; 4:112–121.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Meinert, C.Redesign of trials under different enrolment mixes. Stat Med 1999; 18:241–251.3.0.CO;2-O>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hussain-Gambles, M, Atkin, K, Leese, B.Why ethnic minority groups are under-represented in clinical trials: a review of the literature. Health Soc Care Community 2004; 12 (5):382–388.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Simon, G, Zyzanski, SJ, Eder, M, Raiz, P, Kodish, ED, Siminoff., Groups potentially at risk for making poorly informed decisions about entry into clinical trials for childhood cancer. J Clin Oncol 2003; 21:2173–2178.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hussain-Gambles, M, Atkin, K, Leese, B.Ethnic minority under-represented in clinical trials: whose responsibility is it anyway? Journal of Health Organisation and Management 2003; 17:138–145.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chamba, R, Ahmad, W.Language, communication and information: the needs of parents caring for a severely disabled child. In: Ahmed, W.I.U. (ed.), Ethnicity and Chronic Illness, 85–102. Buckingham: Open University press, 2000.Google Scholar
Tang, S.Interpreter services in healthcare: policy recommendations for healthcare agencies. J Nurs 1999; 29 (6): 23–29.Google ScholarPubMed
David, RA, Rhee, M.The impact of language as a barrier to effective health care in an underserved urban Hispanic community. Mt sianai J Med 1998; 65 (5-6): 393–397. in Bischoff, A, Tonnerre, C, Eytan, A, Bernstein, M, Loutan, L.Addressing language barriers to health care, a survey of medical services in Switzerland. Sozial-und praventivmedizin 1999; 248–256.Google Scholar
Luke, S. Power: A radical view. London: Macmillan, 1974 in Gerrish, K, Chau, R, Sobowale, A, Birks, E.Bridging the language barrier: the use of interpreters in primary care nursing. Health Soc Care Community 2004; 12 (5): 407–413.Google Scholar
Barrett, B, Shadick, K, Schilling, R, Spencer, L, Del Rosario, S, Moua, K, Vang, M.Hmong/medicine interactions improving cross-cultural health care. Fam Med 1998; 30 (3):179–184.Google ScholarPubMed
Raltson, R.Communication: create barriers or develop therapeutic relationships? Br J Nurs 1998; 6 (1):8–11 in Brooks, N, Magee, P, Bhatti, G, Briggs, C, Buckley, S, Guthrie, S, Moltesen, H, Moore, C, Murray, S.Asian patients’ perspective on the communication facilities in a large inner city hospital. J Clin Nurs 2000; 9 (5):706–712.Google Scholar
Jacobs, EA, Shepard, DS, Suaya, JA, Stone, EL.Overcoming language barriers in health care: cost and benefits of interpreter services. Am J Public Health 2004; 866–869.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Estevan, A, Garcia, MD, Lonnie, C. Acomparison of the influence of hospital-trained as hoc, and telephone interpreters on perceived satisfaction of limited English-proficient parents presenting to a paediatric department. Pediatr Emerg Care 2004; 20:373–378.Google Scholar
Fieler, V, Wlasowicz, G, Mitchell, M, Jones, L, Johnson, J.Information preferences of patients undergoing radiation therapy. Oncol Nurs Forum 1996; 23:1603–1608.Google Scholar
Villarruel, M, Portillo, CJ, Kane, P.Communicating with limited proficiency person: implications for nursing practice. Nurs Outlook 1999; 47:6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zeba, A.A different interpretation. Diversity in nursing 2003; 17 (32).Google Scholar
Hampers, LC, McNulty, J.Professional interpreters and bilingual physicians in a paediatric emergency department. Arch pediatr adolesc med 2002; 156:1108–1113.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sheets, DL, El-Azhary, RA.The Arab Muslim client: implications for anaesthesia. J Am Assoc Nurse Anesth 1998; 304–312.Google Scholar
Brooks, N, Magee, P, Bhatti, G, Briggs, C, Buckley, S, Guthrie, S, Moltesen, H, Moore, C, Murray, S.Asian patients’ perspective on the communication facilities in a large inner city hospital. J Clin Nurs 2000; 9 (5):706–712.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Westermeyer, J.Working with an interpreter in psychiatric assessment and treatment. J Nerv Ment Dis 1990; 178:745–749.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Flores, G, Laws, B, Mayo, S, Zuckerman, B, Abreu, M, Medina, L, Hardt, . Errors in medical interpretation and their potential clinical consequences in paediatric encounters. Paediatrics 2003; 111 (1):6–14.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hammick, M, Tutt, M, Tait, D.Knowledge and perception regarding radiotherapy and radiation in patients receiving radiotherapy: a qualitative study. Eur J Cancer Care 1998; 7:103–112.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Calman, Hine.A Policy Framework for Commissioning Cancer Services. London: Stationary office, 1995.Google Scholar
Graydon, J, Galloway, S, Palmer-Wickham, S, Sherrol, , Harrison, D, Rich-van der Bij, L, West, P, Burlein-Hall, SE, vans-Boyden, B.Information needs of women during early treatment for breast cancer. J Adv Nurs 1997; 26 (1):59–64.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Turner, S, Maher, EJ, Young, T, Hudson, G.What are the information priorities for cancer patients involved in treatment decisions? An experienced surrogate study in Hodgkin’s disease. Br J Cancer 1996; 73:222–227.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gamble, K.Communication and information: the experience of radiotherapy patients. Eur J Cancer Care 1998; 7:153–161.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McNamara, S.Information and support: a descriptive study of the needs of patients with cancer before their first experience of radiotherapy. Eur J Oncol Nurs 1999; 3 (1):31–37.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ramirez, AG.Consumer-provider communication research with special populations. Patient education and counselling 2003; 50:51–54.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wilson, M.Cultural competence for critical care nursing practice. Translating research into practice 2001; 13:4.Google Scholar
Johnson, M.Communication in healthcare: a review of the some keys issues. Nurs Times Res 1999; 4:1.Google Scholar
Bennenbroek, F, Buunk, P, Stiegelis, H, Hagedooen, M, Sanderman, R, Van Den Bergh, A, Botke, G.Audiotaped social comparison information for cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy: differential effects of procedural, emotional and coping information. Psychooncology 2003; 12:567–579.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
D’Haese, S, Vinh-Hung, V, Bijdkerke, P, Spinnory, M, De Beukeleer, M, Lochie, N, De Roover, P, Storme, G.The effect and timing of the provision of information on anxiety and satisfaction of cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. J Cancer Educ 2000; 15:223–227.Google ScholarPubMed