Language barriers and the use of medical interpreters: Capturing current practices in paediatric healthcare settings in Ireland

Immigration is a growing phenomenon globally. Some migrants may speak little to none of their migrating countries’ native language. Limited English Proficiency (LEP) presents a challenge for immigrant children and families accessing healthcare in Ireland. Hence, Healthcare professionals (HCPs) are actively seeking ways to address this challenge and facilitate effective communication with these families. Presently, the use of medical interpreters is commonly implemented in paediatric healthcare settings, however little to no research exists on their efficacy or the experiences of its end-users, the healthcare professionals. The objective of this thesis is to explore paediatric healthcare professionals’ experiences and their motivations for the use of medical interpreters in their practice. Using an established scoping review framework, phase one of this thesis divulges a scoping review of current research on this topic on a global scale (Peters et al., 2020). With phase two, a quantitative post-positivist lens permitted exploration of paediatric HCP’s experiences in Ireland through a web-based questionnaire. Permission was obtained for use of the Communication over Language Barriers questionnaire (CoLB-q), which was modified to suit the Irish context. The scoping review revealed several challenges HCPs globally expressed regarding medical interpreter use namely; time-limitations, interpreter quality, technology challenges, rapport, and cost (Ogunnaike et al., 2022). These results were mirrored in the phase two study by paediatric HCPs in Ireland. Distinctively, overall distrust and lack of confidence in medical interpreter services were expressed, while a preference for utilising ad-hoc interpreters and tools like Google translate were also highlighted. The significance of this thesis emphasises that medical interpreter use can be beneficial. However, advances and further innovations to the practice are required to ensure it is a robust and efficient means for overcoming language barrier challenges in the healthcare setting. Regulated training and qualifications are recommended for medical interpreters, to establish more confidence in their use. Training for HCPs would also increase confidence and guide this practice further. Policy refinement is also fundamental to ensure efficient and intentional use of medical interpreters across healthcare settings.