Interpreter accuracy and informed consent among Spanish-speaking families with cancer.
Language interpreters mediate a growing number of health care communication events, including the informed consent process, which underlies the ethical conduct of clinical research. This article explores a key interpretive outcome, accuracy, in 21 Spanish/English informed consent consultations. Discussions were transcribed, translated, and coded according to established techniques. Most (74%) discussion was accurately interpreted (range: 47%-98%; std. deviation: .137). Accuracy was lower in the more technical portions of the discussion when compared with nontechnical portions such as discussion of coping and quality-of-life issues (p = .024). The concept of "randomization" often was poorly communicated and interpreted. These differences may be due in part to the use of long, uninterrupted, and jargon-filled sentences by clinicians explaining research, among other factors. The article concludes that accuracy may be promoted if clinicians used less technical language and shorter sentences, and are more "process driven." Interpreters may need to be better informed about research-related concepts such as randomization. Further research is needed to determine the effects of interpretive accuracy on the informed consent process, the decision to participate in research, and other outcomes.
Simon
Christian M
CM
Bioethics Department, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. christian.simon@case.edu
Zyzanski
Stephen J
SJ
Durand
Ellen
E
Jimenez
Xavier F
XF
Jimenez
Xavier
X
Kodish
Eric D
ED
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003144:Communication Barriers; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms; D014175:Translating; D014481:United States