An Investigation into the Prevention of Turnover of Medical Interpreters

Objective: Since there have been no studies for the prevention of job turnover among medical interpreters, this study examined the effects of social support, professional career maturity and stress coping on their attitudes toward job continuity intentions.

Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the relationships between social support, professional career maturity, stress coping and job continuity intentions.

Methods: Stress coping was measured by using a simplified stress coping scale (with 9 items and 1 factor structure). Social support was measured by defining the interpreters who answered "Yes" for "I have someone to talk to when I feel emotional stress". Professional carrier maturity was assessed by using, 12 career-related items. We defined those interpreters who responded "No" to "Have you ever wanted to quit medical interpreting due to emotional stress?" were to have job continuity intentions.

Results: The present study indicated that 14 (25.5%) of the interpreters did not intend to continue their occupation because of their psychological stresses. Compared to interpreters without social support, the odds ratio of job continuity intentions was 4.39 (95% confidence interval [CI] : 1.13-18.3) for those with social support. Moreover, in comparison with the interpreters with low professional career maturity, the odds ratio of job continuity intentions was significantly higher for those with high professional career maturity (odds ratio [OR] = 4.35; 95%CI: 1.12-21.8). However, there was an association found for stress coping.

Conclusions: Strengthening social support and helping professional career development were the important factors for medical interpreters to be able to continue their careers.