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Dr Jinhyun (Jean) Cho @Lg_on_the_Move presenting at @MQLinguistics Research Seminar. Her presentation explores various intercultural communication issues in doctor-patient encounters mediated by medical interpreters
1/13
Dr Jinhyun (Jean) Cho @Lg_on_the_Move presenting at @MQLinguistics Research Seminar. Her presentation explores various intercultural communication issues in doctor-patient encounters mediated by medical interpreters
1/13
Dr Cho's research is based on interviews with 55 interpreters from various linguistic backgrounds based in Australia, Japan&Korea
Cho asked about interpreters' communicative challenges & which strategies they used to address these issues
Cho asked about interpreters' communicative challenges & which strategies they used to address these issues
Power relations in medical communication favour doctors over nurses/patients/interpreters. Interpreters must also adhere to institutional & ethical rules which impact their agency - requirements for their professional conduct include accuracy, confidentiality & impartiality
RQ: How are cultures enacted in doctor-patient communication in relation to migrant communities, and how do individual interpreters manage intercultural communication issies?
Dr Cho focuses on three themes:
Dr Cho focuses on three themes:
1st theme: Social isolation of communication behaviours of elderly patients
2nd: Shame & stigma attached to mental illness within migrant groups
3rd: Interpreters' different approaches to communicating bad diagnosis
Findings for each theme below
2nd: Shame & stigma attached to mental illness within migrant groups
3rd: Interpreters' different approaches to communicating bad diagnosis
Findings for each theme below
1) Medical interpreters are often regarded as ideal interlocutors for elderly migrants who may want to connect with them...BUT interpreters are discouraged of engaging with communication with patients before consultations as not to get too personal/familiar with them.
1) This code of conduct impacts building trust between patients-interpreters. Interpreters will introduce themselves&then excuse themselves (to minimise interaction) with following strategies: smiles; gentle touch as sign of friendliness; they engage in convos on 'neutral' topics
2) Patient-doctor conversations may risk misdiagnosis where interpreters don't intervene: perhaps by asking more in-depth Qs. Another issue is that mental health may be conceptualised differently in different cultures, complicating interpretation of symptoms & diagnosis
2) Shame&stigma attached to mental illness plus fears of gossip among particular migrant communities can prevent them from seeking medical help (cf Wynaden, 2005; Youssef & Deane, 2006)highlights importance of individuals maintaining a good reputation within ethnic communities
highlights importance of individuals maintaining a good reputation within ethnic communities
2) Solutions? Interpreters draw on various strategies: a) rapport-building through ethnicity, e.g. interpreter "Alice" highlights her 'Africanness' with jewellery&clothing; b) stressing confidentiality; c) being careful with terminology associated with mental health diagnosis
3) How do you communicate bad news?! Two main approaches: patient autonomy vs nondisclosurethe latter is often valued by migrant communities who've been living in 'cultural isolation' (Butow et al. 2017). Interpreters balance giving bad news with cultural expectations
the latter is often valued by migrant communities who've been living in 'cultural isolation' (Butow et al. 2017). Interpreters balance giving bad news with cultural expectations
3) When giving bad news, interpreters often act as advocates, advisors and emotional supports in patient-doctor consultations. They also use sympathetic body gestures (softer voice, nodding, etc) with patient & carefully offer cultural perspectives to doctors
Conclusion: Cho's @MQLinguistics seminar argued that "interpreting is more than words" - interpreters are creative, with significant interactional power - they're also creative in how they negotiate power relations & agency.
Pssst... keep
peeled for Cho's upcoming book!
Pssst... keep
peeled for Cho's upcoming book!
