Moving beyond the ‘language problem’: developing an understanding of the intersections of health, language and immigration status in interpreter-mediated health encounters

Piacentini, T. , O'Donnell, C. , Phipps, A. , Jackson, I. and Stack, N. (2019) Moving beyond the ‘language problem’: developing an understanding of the intersections of health, language and immigration status in interpreter-mediated health encounters. Language and Intercultural Communication, 9(3), pp. 256-271. (doi: 10.1080/14708477.2018.1486409)

Abstract

Health systems internationally are dealing with greater diversity in patient populations. However the focus on ‘the language problem’ has meant little attention is paid to diversity within and between migrant populations; and how interpreted consultations are influenced by intersecting migratory, ethnicity and sociodemographic variables. Our analysis of the experiences of patients, health care providers and interpreters in Scotland evidences the need to move beyond language, addressing multiple hidden inequalities in health care access and provision that operate in both clinic and, especially, home-based settings. We call for a practice-evidenced research agenda promoting cultural communication across health care and home settings, acknowledging immigration status as a social determinant of health. Sur le plan international, des systèmes de santé font face à une diversité croissante dans ses populations de patients. Cependant, l’accent sur ‘le problème de langue’ se traduit dans une manque d’attention à la diversité a l’intérieur même et entre des populations des migrants; et la façon par laquelle des variables migratoire, ethnique et sociodémographique influencent elles-mêmes des consultations interprétées. Notre analyse des expériences des patients, des professionnels fournissant de soins de santé et des interprètes offre des preuves du besoin de dépasser le problème de langue. Et en faisant cela, nous adressons des multiples inégalités, souvent cachées dans des contextes de soins de santé, dans les milieux clinique et domicile. Nous proposons un programme de recherche basé sur la pratique, qui favorise la communication culturelle dans des milieux clinique et domicile, et qui reconnait le statut d’immigration comme un déterminant social de la santé.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Phipps, Professor Alison and Piacentini, Dr Teresa and Stack, Professor Niamh and O'Donnell, Professor Kate
• Authors: Piacentini, T., O'Donnell, C., Phipps, A., Jackson, I., and Stack, N.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > General Practice and Primary Care; College of Science and Engineering > School of Psychology; College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Creativity Culture and Faith; College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Sociology Anthropology and Applied Social Sciences; College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Culture, Literacies, Inclusion & Pedagogy
• Journal Name: Language and Intercultural Communication
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 1470-8477
• ISSN (Online): 1747-759X
• Published Online: 18 June 2018
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2018 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Language and Intercultural Communication 9(3):256-271
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
56476	1	Translation and Asylum Claims: matters of Law, Language and Silence	Sarah Craig	Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC)	AH/J005576/1	LAW - LAW