title: [What do Interpreters Understand as their Role in a Medical Consultation and How do they Carry it out in Reality?].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the literature the role of an interpreter in the clinical setting is not yet clearly defined. The aim of the study is to explore, which role the interpreters assign to themselves and which role they actually take in the clinical setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the quantitative part of the study, the interpreters evaluated their role in the clinical encounter through a questionnaire, whereas in the qualitative part the interpreters' role was assessed by analysing videotapes of the clinical encounters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  373 questionnaires and 19 videotapes were collated and analysed. According to the results of the questionnaire interpreters seem to prefer a neutral role in the clinical encounter. This was in contrast to what was observed in practice, as seen in the videotapes. In reality, they take in an active role while interpreting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important that medical professionals and interpreters discuss their roles and expectations before every clinical consultation.
authors.affiliation: Psychosomatik, Universitätsspital Basel, Schweiz.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sleptsova
authors.affiliation: Angewandte Linguistik, Züricher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Zürich, Schweiz.
authors.forename: Gertrud
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hofer
authors.affiliation: Angewandte Linguistik, Züricher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Zürich, Schweiz.
authors.forename: Eggler
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marcel
authors.affiliation: Psychosomatik, Universitätsspital Basel, Schweiz.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grossman
authors.affiliation: Departement für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsspital Zürich, Schweiz.
authors.forename: Naser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morina
authors.affiliation: Departement für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsspital Zürich, Schweiz.
authors.forename: Matthis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schick
authors.affiliation: Psychosomatik, Universitätsspital Basel, Schweiz.
authors.forename: Mary-Louise
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Daly
authors.affiliation: Psychosomatik, Universitätsspital Basel, Schweiz.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: Arztpraxis, Basel, Schweiz.
authors.forename: Oktay
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kocagöncü
authors.affiliation: Psychosomatik, Universitätsspital Basel, Schweiz.
authors.forename: Wolf Axel
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Langewitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014175:Translating; D014741:Video Recording