International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology

The International Promotion Agency of Culture Technology (국제문화기술진흥원)
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Medical Interpreters in Korea: A Qualitative Study of Medical Tourists' Satisfaction and the Role of Interpreters

  • Received : 2018.10.17
  • Accepted : 2018.11.04
  • Published : 2018.12.31
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Abstract

Background: As a result of the South Korean government's medical tourism strategies, the number of UAE inbound medical tourists have the highest annual increase rate among the Middle Eastern countries. The need for medical interpreters in such cases is inevitable, especially considering the languages spoken in both countries differs. The work of a medical interpreter affects patient satisfaction, quality of care, and the UAE patients' revisit intention. However, there is a lack of literature that focuses on the role of medical interpreters for the Arabic-speaking medical tourists in South Korea. The purpose of this study is to assess the satisfaction and the experience of UAE medical tourists in South Korea who have used medical interpretation services. Method: A descriptive exploratory design, including semi-structured interviews, was used in this study to examine factors influencing the satisfaction of UAE patients seeking medical attention in South Korea, who considered travelling exclusively for medical purposes. Eleven UAE medical tourists were selected for the interview using convenience sampling. Results: Two types of interpreters were revealed by the analysis: interpreters with Arabic as their mother tongue and interpreters with Korean as their mother tongue. Patients emphasized the origin of the interpreters and differentiated between the two types of interpreters' professionalism, abilities, and personal skills. However, due to the huge gap between the two cultures, languages, and religions, the UAE patients mainly preferred the Arabic medical interpreters. Further, each type had certain traits that impacted the medical care process and patients' satisfaction. Conclusion: This study shows that the South Korean government needs to focus on the training and assessment system for Arabic language interpreters. Additionally, cultural differences training for the interpreters may help to increase UEA patients' satisfaction.

Keywords

E1GMBY_2018_v6n4_20_f0001.png 이미지

Figure 1. Three categories with eight sub-causes found through data analysis

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