Browsing by Author "Penn, Claire"

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    Interpreting and the clinician : a conversational analysis of the interpreted consultation in a paediatric hospital
    (2004) Prince, Leyla A; Penn, Claire; Mayers, Pat
    The utilization of interpreters in medical interviews has increasingly become a focus of research, both globally and in South Africa. Effective communication lies at the core of the delivery of a patient-focussed approach to health care and this has been a factor in the drive to improve service delivery, especially from a communication perspective. A number of studies in health care have focussed on the medical interaction between health professionals and their patients. In this study, the aim was to describe and analyse interpreted diagnostic consultations, specifically focussing on the interactions between the health professional, trained interpreter and caregiver. The research was conducted at a tertiary level children's hospital in Cape Town. A qualitative research design was employed in this study. The participants were three health professionals [medical doctors], and a trained interpreter, all employed at a tertiary level children's hospital in the Western Cape, and three caregivers of the children attending the outpatients department. Video recordings of initial assessment consultations were made and thereafter each participant in the consultation, was interviewed. Detailed analysis of the consultations was done using the methods of conversational analysis. Thematic analysis of the post-consultation interviews was done and the findings triangulated with the themes emerging out of the conversational analysis. The findings resulting from the conversational analysis, suggest that interactions taking place in this study could be described as institutional interactions. This was suggested on the basis of the patterns of interactional behaviour, which emerged in the communications of the participants, the interactional strategies used and the interpreter models employed. The need for training for health professionals in interactional strategies also became apparent and highlighted aspects, which may be included in future training of health professionals, which may serve to advance the quality of communication in medical interactions.
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    An investigation into the understanding of basic genetic inheritance amongst amaXhosa caregivers of patients with Haemophilia
    (2009) Solomon, Gabriele Anna Eva; Greenberg, Jacquie; Penn, Claire; Vivian, Lauraine
    This study sought to explore the level of understanding of basic genetic inheritance among isiXhosa-speaking caregivers of patients with the genetic bleeding disorder haemophilia. Haemophilia A and B are X-linked recessive inherited, lifelong bleeding disorders that are caused by deficiencies in blood clotting factors. The condition predominantly affects males, while females are carriers and usually unaffected. These bleeding disorders have a profound impact on the daily life of the affected individual, on carrier mothers and close family. Education is vital to enable women to appreciate the implications of being a carrier and to fully inform them and their partners of the implications for a prospective child. Socio-economic and language issues in South Africa are a major barrier to communication and an obstacle to good medical care for first-language Xhosa speakers. In order to provide culturally-sensitive, effective genetic counselling and to improve communication between health care service providers and first-language Xhosa speakers, it is important to explore the intrinsic knowledge and basic understanding of this cultural group. The study used an exploratory qualitative research design. Ten participants were recruited amongst first-language Xhosa speaking mothers or caregivers of patients with haemophilia residing in townships near Cape Town. Qualitative data were generated from transcribed and translated audiorecords of ten semi-structured interviews, conducted in Xhosa by an interpreter as well as from participant observation notes by the investigator. Results suggest that the participants had a very limited understanding of the clinical management and cause of haemophilia. Information given by health care providers did not appear to be assimilated and participants remained unsure as to the implications of haemophilia. In spite of frequent visits to clinics there appeared to be limited understanding of the medical treatment and genetic consequences of haemophilia, which suggests that communication between health care providers and participants was inadequate. While treatment and care by health care service providers was fully accepted, several participants believe that traditional practices would provide more satisfactory explanations regarding the cause of the condition. Awareness by all role players of v different cultural beliefs and of how illness is interpreted by first-language Xhosa speakers might improve communication between health care service providers and isiXhosa speakers.