初探北台灣醫療體系中的口譯需求：醫師觀點

Exploring the Demand for Professional Interpreting Services in Northern Taiwan’s Hospitals: Physicians’ Perspectives

李立心(Sofia Lee)

指導教授 ： 范家銘

國立臺灣大學/文學院/翻譯碩士學位學程/碩士(2018年)

https://doi.org/10.6342/NTU201800949

摘要

受到國際化浪潮影響，台灣移民人口增加，近年也掀起了觀光醫療的風潮，兩項因素皆會推升醫療體系中跨語言溝通的頻率。國外研究顯示，如果沒有適切的體制讓跨文化溝通更加順暢，醫療體系中的語言隔閡可能會造成醫師誤判病情，也會降低病人就醫的滿意度。有鑑於此，台灣政府與民間組織皆已起身而行，試圖透過建立口譯體制消弭醫院中的語言隔閡問題，但國內仍缺乏相關研究探討醫院跨語言溝通現況、對口譯服務的需求與預期。若未全面了解現況與需求，不管是政府或民間恐怕都難以建立真正符合醫療體系需求的口譯體制。本研究的目標即是要彌補此缺口，透過深度訪談21位在台灣北部地區醫學中心服務的醫師，了解院內跨語言溝通情形與口譯需求。研究結果顯示，台灣醫師鮮少進行跨語言溝通，如遇到無法以中文溝通的病患或陪同病患就醫者（如：家屬、看護），醫師會以英文溝通、採取比手畫腳等溝通策略、或請求非專業口譯員協助。雖然部分醫師認為若能設立專業口譯服務體制，將會帶來益處，但多數醫師認為現況可接受、不需要另設體制。整體而言，台灣醫院對專業口譯服務的需求低於預期，政府與民間組織若想進一步推動，應將此結果納入考量。

關鍵字

口譯 ； 社區口譯 ； 醫療口譯

並列摘要

Globalization has greatly impacted Taiwan’s medical system with the increase in immigrants and medical tourists contributing to the rise in cross-language communication in hospitals. Without the establishment of proper measures to facilitate cross-language communication, language barriers can lead to inaccurate diagnosis and unsatisfactory medical experiences for both patients and physicians as shown by previous research. Being aware of the potential problems, Taiwan’s government and private organizations have taken measures to overcome the barriers. However, little research has been conducted to explore the current situation of cross-language communication, demand for professional interpreting services, and expectations of professional interpreting services in Taiwan’s hospitals. Without understanding these issues, it is difficult to create an interpreting system that suits the needs of Taiwan’s medical system. With this in mind, this research aims to explore the current situation in Taiwan’s hospitals and physicians’ demand for professional interpreting services by conducting in-depth interviews with 21 physicians working at medical centers in Northern Taiwan. The results show that physicians do not engage in cross-language communication very often. When they do, they communicate with patients or patients’ proxies in English or with the help of ad hoc interpreters. Physicians also apply various strategies, including gesturing and drawing. While some physicians regard professional interpreting service systems as nice to have, most physicians find the current situation acceptable and do not consider professional interpreting services in hospitals necessary. Overall, judging from the participants’ responses, the demand for professional interpreting services may be lower than expected in Taiwan’s hospitals.

並列關鍵字

interpreter ； community interpreting ； medical interpreting

參考文獻

Alpert, M., Kesselman, M., Marcos, L., & Urcuyo, L. (1973). The language barrier in evaluating Spanish-American patients. Arch Gen Psychol, 29, 655-659.

American Medical Association. (2007). Office guide to communicating with limited English proficient patients: AMA Division of Medicine and Public Health.

Bagchi, A. D., Dale, S., Verbitsky-Savitz, N., Andrecheck, S., Zavotsky, K., & Eisenstein, R. (2011). Examining effectiveness of medical interpreters in emergency departments for Spanish-speaking patients with limited English proficiency: results of a randomized controlled trial. Annals of emergency medicine, 57(3), 248-256. e244.

Baker, D. (1996). Use and Effectiveness of Interpreters in an Emergency Department, 275 J. AM. MED. ASSO(783).

Berghout, M., van Exel, J., Leensvaart, L., & Cramm, J. M. (2015). Healthcare professionals’ views on patient-centered care in hospitals. BMC health services research, 15(1), 385.