INTERPRETER SERVICES

Researchers may seek to enroll research participants who do not fully comprehend written and/or verbal communication about a study because of:

• limited English proficiency (LEP)
• Illiteracy or low literacy, such as a reading level below the language used in study documents
• vision impairments, and/or
• hearing impairments

The Medical School Research Office strives to provide resources that ensure all researchers have access to information that can improve the quality of their program(s). Recruitment of clinical research participants can be a complex process and many research staff have expressed an interest in additional training and resources surrounding best practices and approach to utilizing language services.

Utilization of language services will allow University of Minnesota researchers to enroll more participants who do not speak English proficiently, and will ensure that access to research studies is equitable. It is not ethical to systematically exclude participants with low English proficiency, especially when participation in a study may have direct benefits to potential participants.

To assist researchers and their teams, the Research Office (in partnership with MHealth Fairview Research Administration, CTSI and the IRB) put together a resource handbook and training seminar for utilizing interpreter services in research. The Medical School Research Office strives to provide resources that ensure all researchers have access to information that can improve the quality of their program(s). Recruitment of clinical research participants can be a complex process and many research staff have expressed an interest in additional training and resources surrounding best practices and approach to utilizing language services.
 

• Seminar Recording
• Slide deck
• Interpreter Services Handbook