PubMed · 7638550
The source did not provide an abstract. Follow the original record for more information.
Explore connections, maps & timelines
D B Green. 1995. We're misusing the intercom.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7638550/
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.
KEEP EXPLORING
The recognition of professional qualifications in all European Union (EU) member states for nurses is covered by both sectoral and general systems directives, yet in reality, few nurses take up their rights as European citizens to live and work in another EU country. One of the main reasons for this is a lack of linguistic skills. This article argues that the nursing profession should be taking a more active role in enabling nurses to move freely around Europe by encouraging language acquisition. It is argued that there are political, social, economic, professional and individual reasons why this should be so. The author gives a brief account of a pilot project which is currently under way to help improve (albeit in a small way) this situation. The project, which has been granted financial support of 100,000 ECU from the European Commission's new training programme, Leonardo da Vinci, will create a multimedia language pack in four languages aimed specifically at nurses.
Language and cultural barriers mitigate between refugee and immigrant populations and the mental health services they need to adjust to life in the United States. To bridge the gap between mental health professional and client, and to educate communities regarding services, agencies are recruiting paraprofessionals who are bilingual and bicultural to perform outreach functions and provide interpretation services. This article presents the recent circumstances that have created this situation, discusses the roles of paraprofessionals in mental health, and addresses the issues and problems that can arise around the hiring, training, and supervision of bilingual, bicultural paraprofessionals.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent of communication problems that arose from patients whose primary language was non-English presenting to an inner city accident and emergency (A&E) department. METHODS: A prospective survey over seven consecutive days during September 1995. All adult patients other than those directly referred by their general practitioner to an inpatient team had a questionnaire completed by the A&E doctor first seeing the patient. The doctor recorded language ability and form of interpreter used, and estimated any prolongation of the consultation and ability to improve communication by the use of additional services. RESULTS: 103 patients (17%) did not speak English as their primary language; 55 patients (9.1% of the study population) had an English language ability rated as other than good, and 16 (29%) of these consultations could have been improved by the use of additional interpreter services; 28 patients overall (4.6% of the study population) required the use of an interpreter, who was usually a relative. CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of patients presenting to A&E have difficulty in communicating in English. These consultations could often have been improved by the use of additional interpreter services. Telephone interpreter services may provide the answer for use in A&E departments because of their instant and 24 hour availability.