Work

“It Adds Time and So Much Information Is Lost”: Patterns of Interpreter Use and Non-English Language Skills Among Surgery Residents at an Academic Safety-Net Hospital

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Federal legislation mandates access to certified interpreters in healthcare interactions for patients with non-English language preference (NELP). Yet little is known about barriers to perioperative interpreter use, particularly among surgery resident physicians who may see patients with NELP for consultations, informed consent, and postoperative care. Our objectives were to describe patterns of languages services use among surgery resident physicians and interest in bilingual certification for those with non-English language skills. DESIGN: The 25-item cross-sectional survey queried non-English language skills and perspectives of surgery residents across the following domains: (1) accessibility of language services, (2) communication skills, (3) workarounds and time pressure, (4) perceived value, and (5) patterns of interpreter use. Free text responses to barriers and improvement suggestions were thematically categorized. SETTING: A university-affiliated safety-net hospital, where more than 50% of patients have NELP. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-six surgery residents in 7 specialties completed the survey (40% response rate). Most participants were in general surgery (35%) with the majority in their second to fourth year. RESULTS: Thirty-five percent of participants reported interest in taking a bilingual certification exam. Most (41%) felt language services were convenient and 54% felt confident communicating with patients with NELP. Residents sought ad hoc nursing (41%) and medical students (21%) interpretation. Three quarters (75%) felt urgent conditions limit interpreter use. Most agreed interpreters improve quality of care (95%). Inpatient rounds was the setting in which interpreters were least utilized (35% never or rarely use). CONCLUSIONS: Surgery residents recognize the value of interpreters but describe time and equipment constraints that impede consistent use of language access across different clinical environments of surgical care. These findings suggest training and institutional support specific to the needs of surgery residents may improve language services utilization which is important for both regulatory compliance and patient safety.

Source: Journal of surgical education

DOI: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2026.103883

Authors: Mariah B. Blegen, Jesus R. Torres, Melinda Maggard-Gibbons, Breena R. Taira, Marcia M. Russell

Institutions: University of California, Los Angeles, Veterans Health Administration, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: Interpreting and Communication in Healthcare

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,420