The main aim of this project is to study mediated intercultural communication in the healthcare sector, taking into account the perspective of all the agents directly or indirectly involved in this mediation. In particular, we will focus on hospitals and primary healthcare centers in Catalonia. The achievement of this main aim will be carried out through the following macro objectives:

  1. To offer an accurate picture of the current situation of mediated intercultural communication in the Catalan healthcare sector.
  2. To evaluate public policies aimed at the management of intercultural communication in the healthcare sector in Catalonia.
  3. To analyse the attitudes of the different actors involved with regard to mediated intercultural communication.

For each macro objective, there will be the following specific objectives:

  • Macro objective 1: To offer an accurate picture of the current situation of mediated intercultural communication in the Catalan healthcare sector.
  1. To obtain information on users of Catalan Healthcare services with limited competence in local languages: number, nationality, gender, languages spoken and frequency of use of these services.
  2. To study the opinion of the direct providers of such services (healthcare staff) about the problems and solutions related to mediated intercultural communication.
  3. To explore the perceptions of healthcare staff about users with limited competence in local languages in Catalan healthcare services: number, nationality, gender, languages spoken, frequency of use of these services, difficulties they face, and perceptions of public policies.
  4. To define the profile of people who work as remunerated intercultural mediators and interpreters in the healthcare services in Catalonia.
  5. To identify the main difficulties encountered by remunerated intercultural mediators and interpreters.
  6. To find out what training is required for those working as intercultural mediators and interpreters in the healthcare sector in Catalonia today.
  • Macro objective 2: To evaluate public policies aimed at the management of intercultural communication in the healthcare sector in Catalonia.
  1. Explore whether there is a unified directorate that manages all policies on intercultural communication in the Generalitat of Catalonia or whether there are separate bodies at the level of this management.
  2. To analyze the positive points and deficiencies regarding mediated intercultural communication in the existing health regulations in Catalonia.
  3. To study whether public policies in Catalonia are implemented in accordance with existing regulations on intercultural communication in the healthcare sector.
  4. To investigate the opinion of the agents responsible for public policies in Catalonia on the situation of mediated communication in the healthcare sector.
  5. To elaborate a report describing the situation of mediated intercultural communication in public policies, both at international and European level and at national and regional level. It will be available at institutional open-access repositories.
  6. To elaborate articles on the topic.
  • Macro objective 3: To analyse the attitudes of the different actors involved with regard to mediated intercultural communication.
  1. To collect data from real situations of mediated intercultural communication in the healthcare sector.
  2. To analyse these situations of mediated intercultural communication in the healthcare sector to investigate the power relations that are established in them.
  3. To explore the perception of communication needs by the different actors involved and to determine to what extent there is resistance or acceptance of existing solutions.
  4. To analyse the levels of trust in the different professional figures of mediated intercultural communication (e.g. intercultural mediators, linguistic interpreters, community health workers, etc.).
  5. To measure the levels of satisfaction of all actors involved with the different existing solutions to facilitate mediated intercultural communication.
  6. To study the impact of attitudes towards different languages on mediated intercultural communication.
  7. To raise awareness among the different actors regarding opportunities for improvement in the realm of mediated intercultural communication in the healthcare sector.