Author (year) Title Country of origin Language of concern Aim of study Study design and main findings
Larson 199938 Using medical students in a translation service for the hospital US 27 languages To introduce and discuss the effectiveness of the Penn Med language link (PMLL). PMLL has provided invaluable services to the hospital, ensuring that language barriers do not impede high quality care. Both number of participants and number of languages offered has increased over the years.
Monroe 200435 Challenging linguistic barriers to health care: students as medical interpreters US Mainly Spanish and Portuguese, also Thai To review the development and implementation of the IAP (Interpreter’s Aide Program) at Brown Medical School, a program to expand interpretation services through a service-learning partnership between academic institutions and health care organizations. Mixed-methods study that found that the most common reasons students drop interpretation training programs were studying abroad, completed academic demands, and graduation.
Yang 200833 Bilingual medical students as interpreters–what are the benefits and risks? New Zealand 35 languages To identify the frequency of medical students interpreting in healthcare settings and to explore the issues related to the use of non-professional interpreters. Survey finding that over 50% of bilingual senior students act as ad hoc interpreters, and experiences are a mix of good, normal, and bad.
Vela 201632 Medical Students’ Experiences and Perspectives on Interpreting for LEP Patients at Two US Medical Schools US Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Arabic, German, Polish, Other Multilingual To assess the frequency at which medical students act as interpreters, as well as students’ perspectives on their experience as interpreters in the healthcare setting. Survey finding that 40% of graduating medical students are bilingual; 84% had been asked to interpret; 12% had been comfortable doing so.
Diaz 201634 Interpreter training for medical students: pilot implementation and assessment in a student-run clinic US Spanish To describe a training program for medical students fluent in Spanish and study the feasibility and efficacy of leveraging medical student volunteers to improve interpretation service Four-year pilot study, where medical students got trained in interpretation, and increased in knowledge and felt more comfortable with the role of an interpreter.
Vargas Pelaez 201821 Implementing a medical student interpreter training program as a strategy to developing humanism US 21 languages To evaluate whether medical interpretation training program at Penn State College of Medicine had an impact on bilingual medical student’s interpretation skills and humanistic traits. Prospective study, where 80 bilingual medical students were trained in medical interpretation. 98% felt more comfortable interpreting, and 87% felt more empathetic towards patients with limited English proficiency.
Ryan 201925 Medical students as interpreters in health care situations: ”… it’s a grey area” Australia 35 Languages The prevalence and experience of medical students acting as ad hoc interpreters in Australia. Survey finding that 73% of final year medical students speak a language other than English; 38% had been asked to interpret; 34% agreed; 0% had formal interpretation qualifications
Carney 201942 Should medical students act as interpreters? Australia All languages. An Australian doctor expressing his opinion on using medical students as ad hoc interpreters. In this opinion article, the author described the ethical concerns associated with medical student interpretation and raised discussion about special circumstances where students should be allowed to interpret.
Aitken 201915 Medical Students as Certified Interpreters US Spanish To Introduce an interpreter certification program at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and discuss the benefits and risks of medical student interpretation Three-year pilot study, where ten students got medical interpretation certification in two-years.
Quesada 202041
Student Medical Interpreters: A Double-Edged Sword
US
Spanish
To present a hypothetical scenario in which a bilingual medical student is asked to act as interpreter in the context of giving a life-altering diagnosis. To discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using bilingual medical students as ad hoc interpreters. Case presentation and discussion. Bilingual medical students jeopardize their learning by dually functioning as interpreters and rotating otolaryngology students. Reform to student interpreter training and attending-to-student relationship will help maximize student learning for bilingual medical students interested in functioning as interpreters at the bedside and increase humanism.
Tehseen 202140 Medical student interpreter training schemes: an aid in post-COVID primary care? UK All languages To discuss whether medical student interpreter training schemes are an aid in post-COVID primary care. In this letter to editor, the author discussed the limitations with interpreter use which could potentially be ameliorated by integrating voluntary interpreter training into medical education.
Bair 202139 Found in translation US Chinese A medical student details his experience interpreting for a physician and his Chinese-speaking depression-afflicted patient. In this opinion article, the author describes and reflects on the difficulties presented in cross-cultural interactions and examines lessons on how healthcare providers can more compassionately approach all patients.
Carlson 202236 Overcoming the language barrier: a novel curriculum for training medical students as volunteer medical interpreters US Spanish To introduce a novel interpreter training program which was developed for medical students to serve as in-person interpreters at a charitable, resident continuity clinic so as to overcome the language barrier in the delivery of healthcare to LLP patients Three-year pilot study, which resulted in an increased number of trained, Spanish-speaking interpreters. The MSITP (Medical Student Interpreter Training Program) is an effective model for training students as medical interpreters to ensure the delivery of quality healthcare for LLP patients.