title: Resident physicians' opinions and behaviors regarding the use of interpreters in New Orleans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In academic medical centers, resident physicians are most involved in the care of patients, yet many have little training in the proper use of interpreters in the care of patients with limited English-language proficiency. Residents have cited lack of time and lack of access to trained medical interpreters as barriers to the use of professional interpreter services. The purpose of this study was to examine the usage patterns of interpreters and perceived barriers to using interpreters in New Orleans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects included resident physicians training in internal medicine, pediatrics, and combined internal medicine and pediatrics at Tulane University and Louisiana State University in New Orleans. A survey that consisted of demographics, short-answer, and Likert-scale questions regarding attitudes related to the use of interpreters was used as the metric.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall response rate was 55.5%. A total of 92.4% of subjects surveyed stated that they had used an interpreter during their residency. Telephone services and family members were the most commonly used types of interpreters (41.3% and 30.5%, respectively). Resident physicians were most likely to use interpreter services during their initial history taking as well as at discharge, but use declined throughout patients' hospitalization (P < 0.001). Residents cited lack of availability, lack of time, and lack of knowledge about accessing interpreter services as the major barriers to using interpreters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Resident physicians training in New Orleans have experience using interpreter services; however, they continue to use untrained interpreters and use varies during the hospital encounter. Targeted training for residents, including interpreter logistics, may help increase the use of interpreters.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Internal Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, and the Department of Biostatistics, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sandler
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Internal Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, and the Department of Biostatistics, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana.
authors.forename: Leann
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Internal Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, and the Department of Biostatistics, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Springgate
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D065246:Culturally Competent Care; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education; D007396:Internship and Residency; D055820:New Orleans; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education; D014175:Translating