Health, Communication and Multicultural Communities

Reviews / Votes

'This book addresses professionals in healthcare and medical settings and people who have experience as linguistic mediators but who have not received any formal training. In order to achieve this goal, the author adopts a pedagogical and an academic approach depending on the topic that is object of discussion... Nevertheless, the pedagogical value of this contribution should not be ignored, as it can also be a precious tool for trainers of future doctors and future healthcare interpreters.'Dr Paola GentileUniversity of TriesteBabel, 61: 3 (2015)'Healthcare interviews are never straightforward, even when the interlocutors originate from the same cultural and linguistic background. [...] The potential for misunderstanding is compounded when health professionals and patients differ in terms of their social, cultural, linguistic and religious background, using a language that may be a second language to both of them. Carmen ValeroGarces explores many of the issues in intercultural health communication based on the situation in Spain, illustrating many of the points she makes with excerpts from interviews where health professionals and patients share their experiences.'Ineke CrezeeAuckland University of Technology'This study on communication in the healthcare setting addressed mainly to medical staff and future practitioners of medicine in multilingual and multicultural settings is a most welcome and relevant contribution. It is based on the highly esteemed theoretical research as well as on the wide practical experience gained in training at the University of Alcala and by the FITISPos group in Spain, coordinated by the author of book, Carmen Valero-Garces. Her contribution to the professionalization of community interpreters and translators is well known in national and international fora. The well-structured chapters cover in concise and accessible manner topics of key interest, with a balanced mix of theory and practice activities. As a result this book will be of interest and use not only to medical staff but also to anyone involved in interlinguistic communication, mediation and translation and interpreting in the healthcare setting.'Francisco Raga GimenoUniversitat Jaume I'With the publication of Health, Communication and Multicultural Communities. Topics on Intercultural Communication for Healthcare Professionals, the author not only attempts to ground their theory in common communication, but there is also an increased tendency to identify the former with the cultural problems. This stratagem gives the impression of a robust, and hence stable, foundation for their theoretical construct, keeping any theory in medical ethics open to, and thereby aware of, the challenges arising from clinical practice, as well as healthcare systems.'Alejandro Reyes MartinPresident of Bioethical Committee, Principe de Asturias Hospital of Alcala de Henares, Madrid