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Addressing language barriers to health care, a survey of medical services in Switzerland

Author

Listed:
  • Alexander Bischoff
  • Claude Tonnerre
  • Ariel Eytan
  • Martine Bernstein
  • Louis Loutan

Abstract

Avec l'augmentation des mouvements migratoires, la langue constitue une barrière potentielle dans l'accès aux soins. Afin de préciser comment la Suisse se situe face à cet enjeu, nous avons mené une enquête auprès des services de médecine et de psychiatrie du pays. Un questionnaire portant sur l'utilisation d'interprètes a été adressé aux directions médicales de tous les services concernés. Le taux de réponse a été de 86,6%, soit un total de 244 questionnaires retournés (166 pour la médecine et 78 pour la psychiatrie). Trente-quatre pourcent des répondants perçoivent la communication avec les patients de langue étrangère comme significativement difficile. Dans 14% seulement des services (5 de médecine et 23 de psychiatrie) on fait régulièrement appel à des interprètes qualifiés. Les professionnels de la santé ont plus souvent recours aux proches du patient (79%), au personnel technique et administratif (75%) ainsi qu'au personnel soignant (43%) pour traduire. Un besoin en interprètes qualifiés s'exprime en priorité pour les langues suivantes: Albanais, Serbo-Croate (et Bosniaque), Turc, Tamoul et Kurde. Ces résultats indiquent que les problèmes liés à l'utilisation d'interprètes informels et les avantages de traviller avec des interprètes qualifiés ne sont pas encore suffisamment connus. Une prise de conscience devrait s'opérer par l'intermédiaire d'une coordination nationale et de programmes de formation dans le domaine de l'interprétariat médical. Copyright Birkhäuser Verlag 1999

Suggested Citation

  • Alexander Bischoff & Claude Tonnerre & Ariel Eytan & Martine Bernstein & Louis Loutan, 1999. "Addressing language barriers to health care, a survey of medical services in Switzerland," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 44(6), pages 248-256, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ijphth:v:44:y:1999:i:6:p:248-256
    DOI: 10.1007/BF01358973
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Corinne Blöchliger & Thomas Junghanss & Regula Weiss & Christian Herzog & Pierre-Alain Raeber & Marcel Tanner & Christoph Hatz, 1998. "Asylsuchende und Flüchtlinge in der hausärztlichen Praxis: Probleme und Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 43(1), pages 18-28, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alexander Bischoff & Patricia Hudelson, 2010. "Access to Healthcare Interpreter Services: Where Are We and Where Do We Need to Go?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 7(7), pages 1-7, July.

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