Experiences of interpreters in supporting the transition from oncology to palliative care: A qualitative study.

Kirby, E; Broom, A; Good, P; Bowden, V; Lwin, Z

Experiences of interpreters in supporting the transition from oncology to palliative care: A qualitative study.

Kirby, E Broom, A Good, P

Bowden, V Lwin, Z

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Publisher:: WILEY
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Asia Pac J Clin Oncol, 2017, 13, (5), pp. e497-e505
Issue Date:: 2017-10

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Kirby, E
dc.contributor.author	Broom, A
dc.contributor.author	Good, P https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8198-0375
dc.contributor.author	Bowden, V
dc.contributor.author	Lwin, Z
dc.date.accessioned	2022-10-03T21:07:42Z
dc.date.available	2016-04-24
dc.date.available	2022-10-03T21:07:42Z
dc.date.issued	2017-10
dc.identifier.citation	Asia Pac J Clin Oncol, 2017, 13, (5), pp. e497-e505
dc.identifier.issn	1743-7555
dc.identifier.issn	1743-7563
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/162250
dc.description.abstract	AIM: Medical consultations focused on managing the transition to palliative care are interpersonally challenging and require high levels of communicative competence. In the context of non-English speaking patients, communication challenges are further complicated due to the requirement of interpreting; a process with the potential to add intense layers of complexity in the clinical encounter, such as misunderstanding, misrepresentation and power imbalances. The aim of the study was to explore the experiences and perspectives of professional interpreters in supporting the transition of culturally and linguistically diverse patients to specialist palliative care. METHODS: Qualitative, semistructured interviews with 20 professional interpreters working in oncology and palliative care settings in two metropolitan hospitals in Queensland, Australia. RESULTS: Four key themes emerged from the thematic analysis: the challenges of translating the meaning of "palliative care"; managing interpreting in the presence of family care-givers; communicating and expressing sensitivity while remaining professional and interpreters' own emotional burden of difficult clinic encounters between doctor and patient negotiations. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that interpreters face a range of often concealed interpersonal and interprofessional challenges and recognition of such dynamics will help provide necessary support for these key stakeholders in the transition to palliative care. Enriched understanding of interpreters' experiences has clinical implications on improving how health professionals interact and work with interpreters in this sensitive setting.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	WILEY
dc.relation.ispartof	Asia Pac J Clin Oncol
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1111/ajco.12563
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1112 Oncology and Carcinogenesis
dc.subject.classification	Oncology & Carcinogenesis
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Communication Barriers
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Medical Oncology
dc.subject.mesh	Palliative Care
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Translating
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Palliative Care
dc.subject.mesh	Communication Barriers
dc.subject.mesh	Medical Oncology
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Translating
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.title	Experiences of interpreters in supporting the transition from oncology to palliative care: A qualitative study.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	13
utslib.location.activity	Australia
utslib.for	1112 Oncology and Carcinogenesis
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/IMPACCT
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-10-03T21:07:41Z
pubs.issue	5
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	13
utslib.citation.issue	5

Abstract:

AIM: Medical consultations focused on managing the transition to palliative care are interpersonally challenging and require high levels of communicative competence. In the context of non-English speaking patients, communication challenges are further complicated due to the requirement of interpreting; a process with the potential to add intense layers of complexity in the clinical encounter, such as misunderstanding, misrepresentation and power imbalances. The aim of the study was to explore the experiences and perspectives of professional interpreters in supporting the transition of culturally and linguistically diverse patients to specialist palliative care. METHODS: Qualitative, semistructured interviews with 20 professional interpreters working in oncology and palliative care settings in two metropolitan hospitals in Queensland, Australia. RESULTS: Four key themes emerged from the thematic analysis: the challenges of translating the meaning of "palliative care"; managing interpreting in the presence of family care-givers; communicating and expressing sensitivity while remaining professional and interpreters' own emotional burden of difficult clinic encounters between doctor and patient negotiations. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that interpreters face a range of often concealed interpersonal and interprofessional challenges and recognition of such dynamics will help provide necessary support for these key stakeholders in the transition to palliative care. Enriched understanding of interpreters' experiences has clinical implications on improving how health professionals interact and work with interpreters in this sensitive setting.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/162250