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The Family Caregiver as Interpreter in the Geriatric Medical Interview
Author(s) -
Hasselkus Betty Risteen
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
medical anthropology quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.855
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1548-1387
pISSN - 0745-5194
DOI - 10.1525/maq.1992.6.3.02a00070
Subject(s) - layperson , facilitator , interpreter , psychology , nursing , social psychology , medicine , computer science , programming language , political science , law
Analysis of transcripts of 40 medical interviews with a doctor, an older patient, and a family caregiver led to the identification of the caregiver as interpreter, in the sense of someone who facilitates communication between the layperson and the health professional. Three communication modes of the family caregiver were derived from the data: Facilitator, Intermediary, and Direct Source. Caregivers acted both as patient substitutes and doctor substitutes in the interactions. Comparisons of the family members' modes of communication and bilingual interpreter issues of role shifting, power, and divided loyalties are discussed. Implications for future research are addressed.