The Impact of a Student-Taught Course in Spanish Language Interpreting on Patient Care at a Student-Run Free Clinic

Abstract

Background: The DAWN Clinic is a student-run free clinic (SRFC) that provides healthcare to Spanish-speaking residents of Aurora, Colorado. However, like many SRFCs, DAWN has a shortage of trained bilingual staff, often relying on "impromptu" interpreters, including family members or untrained staff. In order to improve the quality of care provided to Spanish-speaking patients at this SRFC, we developed an innovative course in Spanish interpreting for health professions students with advanced Spanish language skills but little or no interpreting experience. The 6-week interpreter course, designed by a second-year medical student (a certified Spanish interpreter), adhered to national healthcare interpreting standards and included lectures, interactive workshops, simulations, and clinical experiences with trained interpreters.
Methods: A survey measured learners’ confidence across three domains: interpreting skill; Spanish language ability; and knowledge of obstacles faced by Spanish-speaking patients. A second survey, distributed to DAWN Clinic patients over a 2-year period, measured ease of understanding of medical information and patient satisfaction with provider communication. Mean Likert scale scores were compared using ANOVA.
Results: After the course, students reported increased confidence in interpreting skills (p<0.01), language ability (p<0.01) and understanding obstacles to care (p<0.01). Spanish-speaking patients reported high levels of satisfaction and understanding of medical information, with scores equal to those of a comparison group of English-speaking patients and greater than Spanish-speaking patients who declined interpreter services (p<0.05).
Conclusions: This student-taught course enabled health professions students with advanced Spanish language skills to improve their ability to interpret and contribute positively to patient care at a SRFC.