title: The interpreter as cultural educator of residents: improving communication for Latino parents.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. ann.wu@childrens.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Ann Chen
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Leventhal
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.forename: Ernesto E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Forsyth
mesh_terms: 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