ArticleBMC health services research2019
Barriers to and solutions for addressing insufficient professional interpreter use in primary healthcare.
Article in BMC health services research, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 39 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
39 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Barriers and Facilitators to Asylum Seekers and Refugees Accessing Non-Hospital-Based Care: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review.Journal of immigrant and minority health · 2026Pooled it
- Health professionals' experiences of and attitudes towards mental healthcare for migrants and refugees in Europe: A qualitative systematic review.Transcultural psychiatry · 2023Pooled it
- Response to language barriers with patients from refugee background in general practice in Australia: findings from the OPTIMISE study.BMC health services research · 2021Trial
- Article
- Factors Associated With the Perceived Need for Medical Interpreters Among Health Care Professionals.Cureus · 2026Article
- Ageing in Australia or Returning Home? Healthcare Experiences and Ageing Preferences among Older Arab/Arabic-Speaking Migrants.Journal of immigrant and minority health · 2026Article
- Language Access in Healthcare: Aligning Policy and Evidence to Improve Patient Experience Through Professional Interpretation and Language- Concordant Care.Journal of patient experience · 2026Article
- Delivery of interpreting services in UK primary care by population needs: a multisite case study.BMJ public health · 2026Article
- Communication between Norwegian Pakistani patients and healthcare providers about traditional and complementary medicine: a qualitative study.International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2025Article
- Cancer care disparities among patients with limited English proficiency: challenges and strategies for equity.BJC reports · 2025Review
- Bridging the language gap: Simulation-based education improves communication, confidence, and knowledge for emergency medicine residents working with interpreters.AEM education and training · 2025Article
- Training and usage of language interpretation services among health care providers in a large Canadian pediatric centre.Paediatrics & child health · 2025Article
- The impact of language discordance on genetic counselors' ability to establish a working alliance with patients.Journal of genetic counseling · 2025Article
- 'Don't Assume, Ask': A Collaboration With Consumers, Interpreters, Clinicians and Health Service Staff to Increase Video Telehealth in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Groups.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2025Article
- Exploring Self-Report Dietary Assessment Tools Validated for Indigenous Populations Globally: A Scoping Review.Health promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals · 2025Article
- The vicious circle: how systemic barriers perpetuate maternity interpreting service inadequacies for migrant women in the UK.Frontiers in global women's health · 2025Article
- Implementation of national recommendations for the care of Ukrainian refugee children in Switzerland: a survey of primary care pediatricians.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- Language barriers and cultural differences in childbirth: A qualitative study of Somali women's experiences in Norway.European journal of midwifery · 2025Article
- Uptake and experience of professional interpreting services in primary care in a South Asian population: a national cross-sectional study.BMC primary care · 2024Article
- 'The doctor doesn't understand Xhosa and the service user doesn't understand English' - exploring the role of security guards acting as informal interpreters in psychiatric care in South Africa.BMC health services research · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe aim of this nationwide study was to investigate barriers to adequate professional interpreter use and to describe existing initiatives and identify key factors for successful interpreter policies in primary care, using Switzerland as a case study.
methodsAdult and paediatric primary care providers were invited to participate in an online cross-sectional questionnaire-based study. All accredited regional interpreter agencies were contacted first by email and, in the absence of a reply, by mail and then by phone. Local as well as the national health authorities were asked about existing policies.
results599 primary care physicians participated. Among other reasons, physicians identified cumbersome organization (58.7%), absent financial coverage (53.7%) and lack of knowledge on how to arrange interpreter interventions (44%) as main barriers. The odds of organising professional interpreters were 6.6-times higher with full financial coverage. Some agencies confirmed difficulties providing professional interpreters for certain languages at a timely manner. Degrees of coverage of professional interpreter costs (full coverage to none) and organization varied between regions resulting in different levels of unmet needs.
conclusionsProfessional interpreter use can be improved through the following points: increase awareness and knowledge of primary care providers on interpreter use and organization, ensure financial coverage, as well as address organizational aspects. Examples of successful interventions exist.
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