Project Description
Project aims are to understand how medical interpreters in high-acuity pediatric settings 1) identify and communicate patient and family distress, both verbal and non-verbal, to medical providers in pediatric settings, and 2) how medical interpreters cope with emotionally distressing pediatric medical encounters and content. We are also interested in the resources medical interpreters have available or would like to have available for coping with the emotional and at times distressing content they work with in their jobs. Thirteen medical interpreters at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin were interviewed on these topics using a mixed methods approach. Sections of the interview data have been coded and analyzed using NVivo. Next steps for project include: 1) continue drafting a manuscript for the data related to interpreter communication of distressing content and interpreter supports and resources for coping with distressing content, 2) sharing results with interpreters and management at Children’s Hospital and with the broader academic community, and 3) creating interventions for medical interpreters and medical providers to improve communication in interpreted medical encounters, safeguard interpreter mental health and identify and mitigate gaps in resources for coping with distressing content for interpreters.
Tasks and Responsibilites
The student will work in conjunction with co-PIs to follow-up with interpreter participants for a “member check” – a follow-up interview in which researchers gauge participant agreement with researcher conclusions. The student will continue drafting a manuscript describing supports and resources for interpreters, for which they will be first author. The student will create a poster presentation for the UWM undergraduate research symposium. The student will participate with the co-PIs as they create four one hour-long presentations on the major themes from the interview data to be presented to interpreters and management at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin during “lunch and learn” meetings. The student will help develop interview questions for a larger pool of interpreters at Children’s Hospital for feedback after the “lunch and learn” presentations. The student will assist in the interview process and data analysis of these follow-up interviews.
Desired Qualifications
None listed.