Interprofessional education for the training of language mediators in health services. A case study from Italy
Presenter: Dr. Federico Farini, University of Northampton (UK)
22 November 2024
14:00 UTC/14:00 GMT
Co-sponsored by the Centre for the Advancement of Interprofessional Education (CAIPE)
Moderator: Suzy Plows, University of Nottingham (UK)
Description
Based on several years of educational practice, the proposed seminar discusses the contribution of interprofessional education to the training of language mediators working in health services. The seminar illustrates training practices in Italy which represent an interesting case study, because they are designed at the intersection between the professional knowledge of healthcare providers, linguistic interpreters, and social scientists.
In particular, the seminar discusses the interprofessional approach to training for linguistic and cultural mediators designed and provided by a consortium of Italian Universities and the Regional Health Services of Emilia-Romagna, to which the presenter has contributed for over 15 years.
Abstract
Interpreting can overcome linguistic and cultural barriers in the healthcare system, improving the accessibility and quality of care delivered to migrants. Interpreting can also promote more equity based on sensitivity to diversity and acceptance of it. Promoting equity through interpreting is underpinned by (1) addressing barriers that prevent or limit migrants’ access to healthcare services (2) enhancing equitable care and responsiveness to the diverse needs of patients, (3) enhancing migrants’ active participation in healthcare communication. Against this background, healthcare interpreting can be considered as language mediation, which is considered “intercultural mediation” as it produces conditions of intercultural communication by introducing knowledge previously unavailable to one of the participants, e.g. migrant patients’ cultural background to the provider, as well as aspects of the medical culture to the migrant patient.
Intercultural language mediation produces conditions of intercultural communication also by filling gaps in medical or personal knowledge between healthcare providers and migrant patients in the interaction. In this situation, the “intercultural” aspect of language mediation relates to narrowing the gap between migrants’ problems and needs, and the opportunities of health care accessible to them.
Language mediation entails additional responsibilities for the mediators who combine translation with other tasks such as establishing communication rules, controlling the flow of information, paraphrasing or explaining terms or concepts,
When mediation is linguistic AND cultural within a highly specialised social context such as healthcare, training must be underpinned by interprofessional education. The seminar illustrates the ethos and methods of training practices for language mediators in Italy, underpinned by the collaboration between the professional knowledges of healthcare providers, linguistic interpreters, and social scientists.
Author: Dr. Federico Farini, Professor of Sociology, University of Northampton, United Kingdom
Author email: federico.farini@northampton.ac.uk
Dr. Federico Farini
Federico Farini is Professor of Sociology at the University of Northampton, where he leads the Centre for Psychological and Sociological Sciences. His current research explores three interrelated areas. The first area concerns intercultural and interlinguistic communication and mediation in health and education services. The second area relates to intergenerational relationships and how they inform adult-child interactions in education, healthcare and social services, at the intersection between pedagogies, health professionals identities, social care policies and children’s agency. The third area centres around the language of human rights as social semantics. Federico has published academic works in Italian, English and Slovenian language for international publishers. He is a Board Member of CAIPE.