Paediatrician perspectives and experiences accessing language interpretation services in Paediatric healthcare settings: a POPCORN network qualitative descriptive study

Language inaccessibility can perpetuate inequities in health outcomes, service utilization, and patient and caregiver satisfaction in paediatric care. The use of professionally trained interpreters through language interpretation services (LIS) is associated with improved safety and health outcomes, but barriers to accessing LIS persist. Paediatricians' perspectives and experiences are critical to understand how LIS is accessed and could be improved to enhance paediatric care for linguistically diverse populations. Accordingly, we sought to explore paediatricians' experiences accessing LIS. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted among paediatricians working within children's hospitals across Canada. Semi-structured interviews were conducted from July 2023 to January 2024, continuing until data saturation was reached. We analyzed the interview data employing thematic analysis guided by the Levesque Framework for healthcare access. We interviewed 20 paediatricians from 12 of 16 Canadian children's hospitals. All hospitals had some form of LIS (in person or remote), with increased access to remote interpreters since the COVID-19 pandemic. All participants identified the existence, availability, and importance of LIS. They understood the necessity of LIS to facilitate clear communication as part of providing holistic and equitable healthcare. Barriers, including lack of timely services, paediatrician compensation, training, and standardization, persist. Paediatricians suggested measures such as enhanced training and ongoing investments to improve access to interpreters, thereby enhancing equitable healthcare and promoting inclusion. Canadian paediatricians identified continued barriers, and the need for increased training and clear policies to standardize language need identification and LIS use. Continuous investment and quality improvement are also needed.