Satisfaction with methods of Spanish interpretation in an ambulatory care clinic

OBJECTIVE: To describe the utilization of various methods of language inter pretation by Spanish-speaking patients in an academic medical clinic and to determine patients' and physicians' satisfaction with these methods. METHODS:Survey administered to medical residents and Spanish-speaking patie nts asking about their experience and satisfaction with various methods of language interpretation. MAIN RESULTS: Both patients and residents had the highest level of satisfac tion for professional interpreters (92.4% vs 96.1% reporting somewhat or ve ry satisfactory, p = .17). In contrast, patients were significantly more sa tisfied than residents with using family members and friends (85.1% vs 60.8 %, p < .01), Physicians and patients agreed that accuracy, accessibility, a nd respect for confidentiality were highly important characteristics of int erpreters (>90% of both groups reporting somewhat or very important). Howev er, patients were more concerned than residents about the ability of the in terpreter to assist them after the physician visit (94% vs 45.1%, p < 0.01) . CONCLUSIONS: Using family members and friends as interpreters for Spanish-s peaking patients should be more seriously considered; however, in order to optimize patient satis; faction, differences between patients and providers should be taken into account when using interpretation in medical settings .