How interpreters influence patient participation in medical consultations: The confluence of verbal and nonverbal dimensions of interpreter-mediated clinical communication

Patient participation is an essential aspect of patient-centered care [1]. Studies have associated patients ’ level of active participation with a variety of outcomes, such as improved psychological well-being [2] and treatment adherence [3]. Yet, a growing body of research on communication in which the patient’s companion (e.g. spouse) participates in the consultation has shown that patients particip ated less than they did in consultations where only they and the doctor were present [4]. In the presence of a companion, it is more likely for the patient to be presented with limited opportunities for participation in the communication with the doctor, as the companion might be acting in ways that decrease the interaction time between the patient and the doctor [5,6].
Source: Patient Education and Counseling - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Source Type: research