Present Situation and Problems Associated with Medical Interpreters: A Study of Medical Communication of Foreign Residents in Japan

在本研究中，进行了一项调查，以确定发生在日本的外国居民与医务人员之间的沟通问题。并以此为依据，讨论了医疗口译员的发展前景。调查的答复显示，外国病人的焦虑主要是由于不能完全理解在医疗环境中给他们的解释。这一发现强调了确保向外国患者提供可靠、准确信息的必要性。本研究结果显示，日本医务人员和外国居民都期望有医疗口译员。在已经建立了医疗口译派遣制度的大城市，今后对医疗口译利用的改善与外国居民较少的地区有很大不同。在各区域，必须根据其日益增长的需要提供和改进支助。

In this study, a survey was conducted to identify communication problems occurring between foreign residents in Japan and medical staff. The results were used to discuss the future prospects of medical interpreters. Responses from the survey revealed that foreign patient anxiety primarily resulted from not fully understanding the explanation given to them in a medical setting. This finding highlights the need to ensure foreign patients are provided with reliable, accurate information.Results from this study showed that both Japanese medical staff and foreign residents have an expectation that medical interpreters should be available. Future improvements to the utilization of medical interpreters in large urban areas, which already have a medical interpreter dispatch system in place, are quite different from regional areas where there are fewer foreign residents. In regional areas, it will be necessary to provide and improve support according to their growing needs.