South Asian patient experiences of professional interpreting service provision in general practice in England: a qualitative interview study
Abstract Background Communication difficulties due to unmet language needs are a driver of inequality in healthcare access. The provision of professional interpreting services should mitigate these, and their use is associated with improved patient outcomes. However, interpreting uptake in England i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-04-01
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| Series: | International Journal for Equity in Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-025-02477-4 |
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| author | Graham Hieke Georgia B. Black Judith Yargawa Cecilia Vindrola-Padros Paramjit Gill Lily Islam Emily D. Williams Sabine Braun Katriina L. Whitaker |
| author_facet | Graham Hieke Georgia B. Black Judith Yargawa Cecilia Vindrola-Padros Paramjit Gill Lily Islam Emily D. Williams Sabine Braun Katriina L. Whitaker |
| author_sort | Graham Hieke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Communication difficulties due to unmet language needs are a driver of inequality in healthcare access. The provision of professional interpreting services should mitigate these, and their use is associated with improved patient outcomes. However, interpreting uptake in England is suboptimal and there has been limited research focused on understanding patient experiences and the potential impact on uptake. This multilingual study explored patient perspectives of access to and experience of language support in general practice (primary care) in England, including the use of professional interpreting services and informal language support (i.e. family/friends). Method This is a qualitative study based on face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 30 participants from South Asian backgrounds (Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi), with no/limited proficiency, living in England. Interviews were analysed with inductive thematic analysis. Patient advisors were involved in all aspects of the research and interpretation of the findings was supported by public engagement focus groups. Results Three main themes described participants challenges related to uptake of professional interpreting services including (1) the burden of articulating need, (2) prioritisation of different types of language support (professional/informal), and (3) perceptions of professional interpreting services. Participants described an onus on them to arrange interpreting themselves, whilst regular use of informal language support could inhibit offers of professional language support. Online/digital booking systems perpetuated these challenges. Patient illness appraisal impacted decision making, with informal language support prioritised for less serious matters. Patients highlighted the importance of having confidence in these services, and face-to-face interpreting was preferred to remote interpreting. Conclusions No/low English proficiency patients need additional support when booking interpreted-assisted appointments. Increasing patient awareness of and confidence in professional language support is vital to uptake of services. Emphasising the benefits of professional support over informal options is important, with links to patient safety. We provide recommendations for general practice in how to support the uptake of professional interpreting services. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-baa4f553ff404e1ca9c13106de495e64 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1475-9276 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal for Equity in Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-baa4f553ff404e1ca9c13106de495e642025-08-20T04:01:25ZengBMCInternational Journal for Equity in Health1475-92762025-04-0124111010.1186/s12939-025-02477-4South Asian patient experiences of professional interpreting service provision in general practice in England: a qualitative interview studyGraham Hieke0Georgia B. Black1Judith Yargawa2Cecilia Vindrola-Padros3Paramjit Gill4Lily Islam5Emily D. Williams6Sabine Braun7Katriina L. Whitaker8School of Health Sciences, University of SurreyWolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of LondonWolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of LondonDepartment of Targeted Intervention, University College LondonWarwick Applied Health, Warwick Medical School, University of WarwickPatient and Public InvolvementDepartment of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College LondonCentre for Translation Studies, University of SurreySchool of Health Sciences, University of SurreyAbstract Background Communication difficulties due to unmet language needs are a driver of inequality in healthcare access. The provision of professional interpreting services should mitigate these, and their use is associated with improved patient outcomes. However, interpreting uptake in England is suboptimal and there has been limited research focused on understanding patient experiences and the potential impact on uptake. This multilingual study explored patient perspectives of access to and experience of language support in general practice (primary care) in England, including the use of professional interpreting services and informal language support (i.e. family/friends). Method This is a qualitative study based on face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 30 participants from South Asian backgrounds (Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi), with no/limited proficiency, living in England. Interviews were analysed with inductive thematic analysis. Patient advisors were involved in all aspects of the research and interpretation of the findings was supported by public engagement focus groups. Results Three main themes described participants challenges related to uptake of professional interpreting services including (1) the burden of articulating need, (2) prioritisation of different types of language support (professional/informal), and (3) perceptions of professional interpreting services. Participants described an onus on them to arrange interpreting themselves, whilst regular use of informal language support could inhibit offers of professional language support. Online/digital booking systems perpetuated these challenges. Patient illness appraisal impacted decision making, with informal language support prioritised for less serious matters. Patients highlighted the importance of having confidence in these services, and face-to-face interpreting was preferred to remote interpreting. Conclusions No/low English proficiency patients need additional support when booking interpreted-assisted appointments. Increasing patient awareness of and confidence in professional language support is vital to uptake of services. Emphasising the benefits of professional support over informal options is important, with links to patient safety. We provide recommendations for general practice in how to support the uptake of professional interpreting services.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-025-02477-4General practiceHealth inequalitiesLanguage barriersQualitative methodsInterpreting |
| spellingShingle | Graham Hieke Georgia B. Black Judith Yargawa Cecilia Vindrola-Padros Paramjit Gill Lily Islam Emily D. Williams Sabine Braun Katriina L. Whitaker South Asian patient experiences of professional interpreting service provision in general practice in England: a qualitative interview study International Journal for Equity in Health General practice Health inequalities Language barriers Qualitative methods Interpreting |
| title | South Asian patient experiences of professional interpreting service provision in general practice in England: a qualitative interview study |
| title_full | South Asian patient experiences of professional interpreting service provision in general practice in England: a qualitative interview study |
| title_fullStr | South Asian patient experiences of professional interpreting service provision in general practice in England: a qualitative interview study |
| title_full_unstemmed | South Asian patient experiences of professional interpreting service provision in general practice in England: a qualitative interview study |
| title_short | South Asian patient experiences of professional interpreting service provision in general practice in England: a qualitative interview study |
| title_sort | south asian patient experiences of professional interpreting service provision in general practice in england a qualitative interview study |
| topic | General practice Health inequalities Language barriers Qualitative methods Interpreting |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-025-02477-4 |
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