TY - JOUR
T1 - Seen but not heard – ethnic minorities’ views
of primary health care interpreting provision:
a focus group study
AU - Barron, Duncan
AU - Holterman, C.
AU - Shipster, P.
AU - Baston, S.
AU - Alam, M.
N1 - © Cambridge University Press, 2010
PY - 2010/1
Y1 - 2010/1
N2 - Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the awareness and views of members of the
ethnic minority community towards primary health care interpreting provision in two
localities in Hertfordshire. Background: Ethnic minority groups often have to
undertake many aspects of their day-to-day lives with limited English. The provision of
high quality language interpretation services is vital for enabling access to public
services, including healthcare. The use of accredited or professional interpreters has
been minimal within primary care and undermines the principle of equity in the
National Health Service. The local Primary Care Trust and ethnic minority forums
initiated this study. Methods: The overall research design was qualitative and data
collection was undertaken using focus groups. Twenty-four participants from the
Pakistani (Punjabi and Urdu speakers), Bangladeshi (Bengali speakers) and Chinese
(Cantonese and Mandarin speakers) communities took part in one of five focus
groups. Ethnic minority members recruited participants, conducted the focus groups
and translated the interviews after receiving in-depth training. Findings: Participants
were unaware that healthcare professionals could access interpreting provision for
their primary health care consultations, which were usually managed with the assistance
of family members (including children) and friends. Both the appropriateness of
using children and the potential compromising of confidentiality and privacy when
using friends to interpret were concerns. Women discussed inventing illnesses rather
than talking openly about embarrassing health issues in front of their children or
husbands, which they suggested, may lead to depression or other mental health
problems. Trust, accuracy, independence and confidentiality were important attributes
participants expected in a professional interpreter whom they would prefer was from
their own gender and culture.
Key words: ethnic minorities; focus groups; interpreting provision; primary health care
AB - Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the awareness and views of members of the
ethnic minority community towards primary health care interpreting provision in two
localities in Hertfordshire. Background: Ethnic minority groups often have to
undertake many aspects of their day-to-day lives with limited English. The provision of
high quality language interpretation services is vital for enabling access to public
services, including healthcare. The use of accredited or professional interpreters has
been minimal within primary care and undermines the principle of equity in the
National Health Service. The local Primary Care Trust and ethnic minority forums
initiated this study. Methods: The overall research design was qualitative and data
collection was undertaken using focus groups. Twenty-four participants from the
Pakistani (Punjabi and Urdu speakers), Bangladeshi (Bengali speakers) and Chinese
(Cantonese and Mandarin speakers) communities took part in one of five focus
groups. Ethnic minority members recruited participants, conducted the focus groups
and translated the interviews after receiving in-depth training. Findings: Participants
were unaware that healthcare professionals could access interpreting provision for
their primary health care consultations, which were usually managed with the assistance
of family members (including children) and friends. Both the appropriateness of
using children and the potential compromising of confidentiality and privacy when
using friends to interpret were concerns. Women discussed inventing illnesses rather
than talking openly about embarrassing health issues in front of their children or
husbands, which they suggested, may lead to depression or other mental health
problems. Trust, accuracy, independence and confidentiality were important attributes
participants expected in a professional interpreter whom they would prefer was from
their own gender and culture.
Key words: ethnic minorities; focus groups; interpreting provision; primary health care
U2 - 10.1017/S1463423609990399
DO - 10.1017/S1463423609990399
M3 - Article
SN - 1463-4236
VL - 11
SP - 132
EP - 141
JO - Primary Health Care Research & Development
JF - Primary Health Care Research & Development
IS - 2
ER -