Table 1 Characteristics of study setting [24,25,26,27]
| Â | Austria | Norway |
|---|---|---|
Population size | 8.77 mil. | 5.29 mil. |
Immigrants | 15.3% (mostly European countries, and Asia) | 14.1% (mostly European countries, and Asia) |
English as official language | No | No |
Population diversity reflected in workforce of healthcare system | No | No |
Patient’s right to information about care | Yes | Yes |
Healthcare personnel responsible for providing professional interpreters | Yes | Yes |
Public/private financing of interpretation services | In-patient care: majority public, free at the point of access Patients not attending scheduled visit with interpreter must pay a fine | In-patient care: public, free at the point of access |
National guidelines about when/how to use interpreters | No | No |
Specific regulations apply to refugees /asylum seekers: entitlements restricted to basic healthcare | Yes | Yes |