Self-assessed competency at working with a medical interpreter is not associated with knowledge of good practice - Hudelson, P.; Perneger, T.; Kolly, V.; Perron, N. J. (PLoS One, 2012)
BACKGROUND: Specific knowledge and skills are needed to work effectively with an interpreter, but most doctors have received limited training. Self-assessed competency may not accurately identify training needs. PURPOSES: The purpose of this study is to explore the association between self-assessed competency at working with an interpreter and the ability to identify elements of good practice, using a written vignette. METHODS: A mailed questionnaire was sent to 619 doctors and medical students in Geneva, Switzerland. RESULTS: 58.6% of respondents considered themselves to be highly competent at working with a professional interpreter, but 22% failed to mention even one element of good practice in response to the vignette, and only 39% could name more than one. There was no association between self-rated competency and number of elements mentioned. CONCLUSIONS: Training efforts should challenge the assumption that working with an interpreter is intuitive. Evaluation of clinicians' ability to work with an interpreter should not be limited to self-ratings. In the context of large-scale surveys, written vignettes may provide a simple method for identifying knowledge of good practice and topics requiring further training.
Keywords: journalArticle; *Clinical Competence; *Communication Barriers; *Education, Medical, Continuing; *Language; *Self-Assessment; *Surveys and Questionnaires; Adult; Female; Humans; Male