Are good intentions good enough? Informed consent without trained interpreters.

Are good intentions good enough? Informed consent without trained interpreters. Research Abstract Details 

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Are good intentions good enough? Informed consent without trained interpreters. Abstract Text:

Linda M Hunt,Katherine B de Voogd,

OBJECTIVE: To examine the informed consent process when trained language interpreters are unavailable. BACKGROUND: Ensuring sufficient patient understanding for informed consent is especially challenging for patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). While US law requires provision of competent translation for LEP patients, such services are commonly unavailable. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Qualitative data was collected in 8 prenatal genetics clinics in Texas, including interviews and observations with 16 clinicians, and 30 Latina patients. Using content analysis techniques, we examined whether the basic criteria for informed consent (voluntariness, discussion of alternatives, adequate information, and competence) were evident for each of these patients, contrasting LEP patients with patients not needing an interpreter. We present case examples of difficulties related to each of these criteria, and compare informed consent scores for consultations requiring interpretation and those which did not. RESULTS: We describe multiple communication problems related to the use of untrained interpreters, or reliance on clinicians' own limited Spanish. These LEP patients appear to be consistently disadvantaged in each of the criteria we examined, and informed consent scores were notably lower for consultations which occurred across a language barrier. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of adequate Spanish interpretation, it was uncertain whether these LEP patients were provided the quality and content of information needed to assure that they are genuinely informed. We offer some low-cost practice suggestions that might mitigate these problems, and improve the quality of language interpretation, which is essential to assuring informed choice in health care for LEP patients.

Are good intentions good enough? Informed consent without trained interpreters. Publishing Authors By Initials

LM Hunt,KB de Voogd,

For similar persons: voluntary workers research abstracts see: persons: voluntary workers research

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Are good intentions good enough? Informed consent without trained interpreters. Journal Published:

PUBLICATION TYPE: Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov

Journal: Journal of general internal medicine : official jo

VOLUME: 22

Page Numbers: 598-605

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ISSN: 1525-1497

DAY: 2

MONTH: 03

YEAR: 2007

Are good intentions good enough? Informed consent without trained interpreters. Information

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LANGUAGE: eng

NlmUniqueID: 8605834

Are good intentions good enough? Informed consent without trained interpreters. Keywords Mesh Terms:

KEYWORDS: Voluntary Workers

MESH TERMS: standards

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Grant and Affiliation Information for Are good intentions good enough? Informed consent without trained interpreters.

AFFILIATION: Department of Anthropology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. huntli@msu.edu

Country: United States

AGENCY: United States NHGRI

GRANT: 1R01 HG001384-01

ACRONYM: HG

MEDLINETA: J Gen Intern Med

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