STOIC Safety and Quality Themes Of Interpreted Consultations v.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
STOIC: Safety and Quality Themes Of Interpreted Consultations in General Practice: a qualitative study of interpreter mediated consultations in primary care.
IRAS ID
328385
Contact name
Eleanor Southgate
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen Mary University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 30 days
Research summary
This is a study about safety strategies used in GP consultations for patients who don’t speak English.
Healthcare workers often see patients who do not speak English well. Interpreters are used to help doctors and patients understand each other. Sometimes, things can go wrong if interpreters translate information differently to how the doctors intended it.
“Safety netting” is the advice given by GPs when there is some uncertainty about what is wrong with the patient. Safety netting involves giving patients information on where and when to seek help if they keep feeling unwell or get worse. Safety netting may prevent serious illness by encouraging patients to come back to see a doctor.
Research, from fluent English speakers, has shown that patients do not always understand ‘safety netting’ advice. In fact, some people feel dismissed, and are discouraged from returning.
Recent work with patients who do not speak English revealed that many felt uneasy when their doctor expressed uncertainty. We do not know how safety netting is used in consultations involving interpreters or how safety netting advice is understood. This study aims to find out how safety netting is used in GP consultations where the patient does not speak English and an interpreter is used.
Researchers will use audio recordings of consultations to hear how GPs give safety netting advice when working with an interpreter. We will learn about how patients respond to the safety netting advice both by listening to their responses on the recording, and by inviting them to take part in interviews. We will ask them what they understood from the consultation, and what they intend to do. We will also interview their GP, to make sure we understand what GP’s intentions were.
Findings from the study may be useful for the training of healthcare workers and interpreters.
REC name
London - London Bridge Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/PR/0670
Date of REC Opinion
26 Jun 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion