The interpreter as cultural educator of residents: improving communication for Latino parents.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether augmentation of the Spanish interpreter's role to include cultural education of residents can improve the satisfaction of Latino patients.


METHODS
We assessed parent satisfaction during 4 sequential 2-month periods between June 1, 2004, and February 11, 2005, using different interpretation methods: telephone interpretation (n = 91 patient encounters), trained in-person interpretation (n = 49), in-person interpretation with cultural education of residents (n = 65), and postprogram telephone interpretation (n = 45).


METHODS
General pediatric practice at a large teaching hospital.


METHODS
A total of 250 Spanish-speaking parents who were limited in English proficiency.


METHODS
The cultural education program included 3 brief preclinic conferences taught by an interpreter and one-on-one teaching of residents about language and cultural issues after each clinical encounter.


METHODS
Parent satisfaction was assessed using 8 questions that have previously been validated in Spanish. Lower scores indicated more satisfaction.


RESULTS
Because they were limited in English proficiency, our Spanish-speaking patients were significantly more satisfied when an in-person interpreter was used compared with a telephone interpreter (mean total satisfaction score of 14.5 [in-person] vs 17.4 [telephone]; P = .006) but were even more satisfied when the interpreter educated residents in cultural and language issues (mean, 11.5 [in-person with education] vs 17.4 [telephone]; P<.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Although use of an in-person interpreter can increase Latino parents' satisfaction, a program using an interpreter to educate residents in cultural and language issues can increase satisfaction further.
Wu
Ann Chen
AC
Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. ann.wu@childrens.harvard.edu
Leventhal
John M
JM
Ortiz
Jacqueline
J
Gonzalez
Ernesto E
EE
Forsyth
Brian
B
D000069:Acculturation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003237:Connecticut; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007802:Language; D007843:Latin America / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations