Language Skills and Level of Experience among Arabic-Speaking Healthcare Interpreters in Denmark; an Explorative Study

Nada Itani,Mohammed R Khalil,Morten Sodemann

doi:10.21767/2049-5471.1000123

Nada Itani, Mohammed R Khalil + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.21767/2049-5471.1000123

Copy DOI

Abstract

Background: Denmark has become a multicultural society over the past three decades, with 12.8% of the population being immigrants and their descendants. Many of these risk inequality in access to health and in health outcomes because of language barriers. The quality of healthcare interpreting services has recently been discussed by politicians and the media. The present explorative study investigated the sociodemographic characteristics, level of experience and linguistic skills of Arabic-speaking healthcare interpreters in Denmark. Method: Snowball sampling (including social media) was used to recruit interpreters. Data were collected through individual telephone interviews based on an interview guide containing structured and semi-structured questions. Interpreters’ language skills were assessed subjectively based on the flow of the interview and preferred interview language. Results: Of the 232 professional Arabic-speaking healthcare interpreters interviewed 21% were assessed as having adequate skills in both Danish and Arabic, 40% we assessed as having inadequate skills in both languages. Only 6% of interpreters born in Denmark had adequate language skills in both languages. Conclusion: A large proportion of Arabic-speaking healthcare interpreters appear to have inadequate language skills in Danish or Arabic or both. Interpreters born in Denmark do not appear to have better skills than those born elsewhere. There is an urgent need to screen interpreters to identify those who are unfit for healthcare interpretation. Those eligible should receive additional training, including technical language skills. All interpreters should be required to undergo testing of their linguistic skills to work professionally as healthcare interpreters.

Highlights

Denmark has become a multicultural society over the past three decades, with 12.8% of the population being immigrants and their descendants
Of the 232 professional Arabic-speaking healthcare interpreters interviewed 21% were assessed as Global migration contributed to the number of immigrants and their descendants in Denmark increasing to 12.8% in 2016
Ethnic minority patients often face language barriers that can result in negative experiences in encounters with the healthcare system

Summary

Introduction

Denmark has become a multicultural society over the past three decades, with 12.8% of the population being immigrants and their descendants. Many of these risk inequality in access to health and in health outcomes because of language barriers. The present explorative study investigated the sociodemographic characteristics, level of experience and linguistic skills of Arabic-speaking healthcare interpreters in Denmark. 7.9% originated from non-western countries and Arabic-speaking immigrants represented the largest group [1]. Many studies have indicated that, compared to ethnic Danes, non-western immigrant groups use healthcare services more frequently and have worse self-rated morbidity and excess mortality for a range of diseases [2,3,4,5]. According to Danish healthcare law, all residents have the right to equal treatment and physicians should minimize language barriers through assistance from interpreters whenever necessary [7]

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion