Caring for refugee patients: The use of interpreters in primary care

Project Short Title
Caring for refugee patients: The use of interpreters in primary care

Project Status
Current

Professor
Mark Harris

Aim:

To assess the use of health interpreters in primary care for patients who are refugees.

Background

Refugees face significant healthcare needs including infectious diseases, poor nutrition, chronic non-communicable conditions, mental-health problems related to trauma and social problems including gender-based violence. Language is an important barrier to appropriate primary health care in Australia and other “destination” countries. Interpreters are sometimes unavailable or not widely known about or used amongst general practitioners (GPs). Where informal interpreters are used, they r often found to be inadequate. Professional interpreters are usually preferred, but issues relating to scheduling were common. Concerns expressed by GPs and patients included impediments to conversation and concerns over confidentiality in small migrant communities. Inconsistencies in interpreters prevented the development of trust. Language barriers limited understanding between doctor and patient, and compromised treatment options.

Methods

Participants will be health care providers aged 18 years or older who work in primary care in Australia with an interest in refugee health. It is being conducted with the support of the Refugee Health Professional Network of Australia and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Special Interest Group on refugee health. The survey is also being conducted in USA, Canada and Ireland with the support of the North American Primary Care Research Group.

Data will be collected via an anonymous online survey. This will be analyzed and the report published on this website.