This document outlines a research project to help medical interpreters through technology. It discusses conducting fieldwork including interviews with interpreters and observation of medical consultations to understand the interpreters' work and challenges. Using grounded theory, the researchers will analyze the data, identify problems and opportunities, and develop design opportunity statements to propose technology-based solutions. The goal is to help interpreters facilitate communication between patients and healthcare providers when they do not speak the same language.

1. Ilana Rozanes
Saturnino Luz
Gavin Doherty
School of Computer Science
and Statistics

2. Using technology
to help people

3. SOLUTION
PROBLEM

5. PROBLEM

6. How can
a patient and a health provider
communicate with each other
when they do not speak
the same language
?

7. Source: From top left, clockwise:
http://www.famhealthcare.org/services/interpreters.html, http://www.uticaod.com/news/x1792923422/Refugees-from-around-globe-
spur-demand-for-medical-interpreters, http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-07-19-medical-interpreters_x.htm

8. Language Barriers in Healthcare
Can we help medical interpreters
do their work?
• Understand the work of Medical
Interpreters
• Identify problems and propose
solutions

9. How do we even start?

10. The Overall Approach

11. . .
.
Fieldwork and
Data Analysis
Grounded Theory
.
.
Data Synthesis
.
Design Opportunity
Statements

12. Situation
Representation of Situation

13. Remembering
Professional Identity

14. data theoretical
collection sampling
and open and
coding selective
coding
sorting and
theoretical
coding.
Literature
review
Grounded Theory

15. solution
opportunity ideas
area
users and
levels of
support
Design Opportunity
Statements

16. . .
.
Fieldwork and
Data Analysis
Grounded Theory
.
.
Data Synthesis
.
Design Opportunity
Statements

17. Data collection and Open Coding
Interviews with medical interpreters
What makes your
What is it like being
job difficult?
a medical
What facilitates
interpreter?
your job?

18. Direct Observation
of
Medical Consultations

19. Why bother?
• Complex, risky contexts
• Domains involving life-critical situations
where ideas cannot be tested and retested as
decisions prove to be wrong in the field
Healthcare

20. Design Opportunity Statement
“[w]hen we lack such a problem
statement, our project can drift
dangerously off-course,
leaving us perhaps with
a solution to the wrong problem
or, worse still,
with no solution at all”
Source: Newman, W. M., & Lamming, M. G. (1995). Interactive system design.
Harlow: Addison-Wesley, pp. 16

21. Thank you
ilana.rozanes@tcd.ie