TY - JOUR

T1 - Health-care encounters without interpreters

T2 - a qualitative study of the impact of user fees on interpretation in Danish health services

AU - Michaëlis, Camilla

AU - Lindell, Johanna Falby Falby

AU - Hansen, Cæcilie

AU - Krasnik, Allan

AU - Reventlow, Susanne

AU - Nørredam, Marie

AU - Lutterodt, Melissa

AU - Davidsen, Annette Sofie

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Purpose: Following the introduction of user fee for interpreting in Danish health care, a considerable decrease in interpreter services has been shown. This study aims to explore the experiences of language minority patients with health-care encounters when an interpreter was needed but not present. Design/methodology/approach: Semistructured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 language minority patients with limited Danish proficiency. All interviews were conducted with interpreters in the participants’ native language. Data were analyzed using an inductive thematic approach. Findings: Most participants experienced communication difficulties and difficulties participating actively in their own health care. The experience of unresolved language barriers led to a high degree of uncertainty and left the participants with unanswered health concerns. Participants expressed a reluctance to seek health care, which consequently limited the utilization of health care services. Research limitations/implications: Although the findings only represent a small sample of patients, the results still reveal major challenges that minority-language patients encounter when seeking health care. Future studies should explore, if the intention of the law is met through the user fees. Practical implications: Despite having the same entitlements as native Danish-speaking patients, minority-language patients experienced difficulties accessing and using health care services due to the user fee and unresolved language barriers. The study elucidates patient perspectives and points to important ways of improving the quality of health care. Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no investigation into the communicative consequences of the introduction of the user fee for interpreting services exists. Thus, this study seeks to address that gap.

AB - Purpose: Following the introduction of user fee for interpreting in Danish health care, a considerable decrease in interpreter services has been shown. This study aims to explore the experiences of language minority patients with health-care encounters when an interpreter was needed but not present. Design/methodology/approach: Semistructured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 language minority patients with limited Danish proficiency. All interviews were conducted with interpreters in the participants’ native language. Data were analyzed using an inductive thematic approach. Findings: Most participants experienced communication difficulties and difficulties participating actively in their own health care. The experience of unresolved language barriers led to a high degree of uncertainty and left the participants with unanswered health concerns. Participants expressed a reluctance to seek health care, which consequently limited the utilization of health care services. Research limitations/implications: Although the findings only represent a small sample of patients, the results still reveal major challenges that minority-language patients encounter when seeking health care. Future studies should explore, if the intention of the law is met through the user fees. Practical implications: Despite having the same entitlements as native Danish-speaking patients, minority-language patients experienced difficulties accessing and using health care services due to the user fee and unresolved language barriers. The study elucidates patient perspectives and points to important ways of improving the quality of health care. Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no investigation into the communicative consequences of the introduction of the user fee for interpreting services exists. Thus, this study seeks to address that gap.

KW - Access to health care

KW - Health policy

KW - Interpreting services

KW - Language barriers

KW - Language minority patients

KW - User fee

U2 - 10.1108/IJMHSC-12-2022-0126

DO - 10.1108/IJMHSC-12-2022-0126

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85191326097

JO - International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care

JF - International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care

SN - 1747-9894

ER -