ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to describe issues in use of interpreters when Brazilian residents have an access to the medical care services in Japan. Focus groups were undertaken with three groups of eighteen Brazilian residents in Shizuoka prefecture. Data analysis drew upon the principles of summarizing content analysis.<BR>The participants' proficiency in Japanese language varied; six were intermediate level, eight were basic level, and four were unable to communicate in Japanese. Ten of them used interpreters at medical care services. Those interpreters were usually ad hoc, untrained individual such as members of the family, friends, or outsourced personnel. Summarizing content analysis revealed three themes as follows: When using ad hoc interpreter; The interpreter may omit, add, or substitute some words/phrases therefore the interpretation may be inaccurate. The interpreter may not understand the medical terms because those terms are not used daily. Absence of trained medical interpreters at medical facilities; It is tedious to find an interpreter. The patient cannot provide sufficient information to a physician, nor can he/she understand what a physician explain, nor know the effect/side effect of the medicine. Measures to improve the communication between Brazilian patients and physicians; The presence of a hospital interpreter would be essential. Written notes are highly appreciated.<BR>Communication barriers between a physician and a patient can be seen regardless of the presence of an interpreter. It is important to tell the interpreter to interpret a word/phrase uttered by both a patient and a physician accurately and to explain to him/her of the importance of privacy protection in advance. It is also suggested that a physician needs to avoid to use the technical terms, explain in words which could easily be understood by a patient or give notes to a patient so that there will be a better communication between a physician and a patient.