title: Involving migrants in the development of guidelines for communication in cross-cultural general practice consultations: a participatory learning and action research project.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this research was to involve migrants and other key stakeholders in a participatory dialogue to develop a guideline for enhancing communication in cross-cultural general practice consultations. In this paper, we focus on findings about the use of formal versus informal interpreters because dialogues about these issues emerged as central to the identification of recommendations for best practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  This qualitative case study involved a Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) research methodology.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample comprised 80 stakeholders: 51 from migrant communities; 15 general practitioners (GPs) and general practice staff; 7 established migrants as peer researchers; 5 formal, trained interpreters; and 2 service planners from the national health authority.
  
  
  METHODS
  Galway, Ireland.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was 100% consensus across stakeholder groups that while informal interpreters have uses for migrants and general practice staff, they are not considered acceptable as best practice. There was also 100% consensus that formal interpreters who are trained and working as per a professional code of practice are acceptable as best practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Policymakers and service planners need to work in partnership with service providers and migrants to progress the implementation of professional, trained interpreters as a routine way of working in general practice.
authors.affiliation: National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Reilly-de Brún
authors.affiliation: University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: MacFarlane
authors.affiliation: National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: de Brún
authors.affiliation: National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland Galway Migrant Service, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ekaterina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Okonkwo
authors.affiliation: National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Jean Samuel
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Bonsenge Bokanga
authors.affiliation: National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland Portuguese Association of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manuela De Almeida Silva
authors.affiliation: National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ogbebor
authors.affiliation: National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Aga
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mierzejewska
authors.affiliation: National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Lovina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nnadi
authors.affiliation: Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Radboud University, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van den Muijsenbergh
authors.affiliation: Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Radboud University, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Weel-Baumgarten
authors.affiliation: Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Radboud University, the Netherlands Australian National University, Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Weel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003144:Communication Barriers; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D065246:Culturally Competent Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D036301:Qualitative Research; D014171:Transients and Migrants; D014175:Translating
keywords: PRIMARY CARE; QUALITATIVE RESEARCH; SOCIAL MEDICINE