Journal article
Multilingual healthcare communication: Stumbling blocks, solutions, recommendations.
- Krystallidou D University of Surrey, Centre for Translation Studies, School of Literature and Languages, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK; KU Leuven, Faculty of Arts, Sint Andries Campus, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: d.krystallidou@surrey.ac.uk.
- Langewitz W University and University Hospital Basel, Dept. Psychosomatic Medicine, Clinical Communication, Switzerland. Electronic address: wolf.langewitz@usb.ch.
- van den Muijsenbergh M Radboud University Medical Centre Department of Primary and Community Care Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Pharos, Dutch Centre of Expertise on Health Disparities, Utrecht the Netherlands. Electronic address: m.vandenmuijsenbergh@pharos.nl.
- 2020-09-29
Published in:
- Patient education and counseling. - 2020
Digital technologies
Interpreters
Language barriers
Migrant patients
Multilingual healthcare communication
mHEALTH
English
OBJECTIVE
To provide guidance on multilingual and language discordant healthcare communication.
DISCUSSION
We provide a critical reflection on common stumbling blocks to securing (professional) language support, as well as on the currently available solutions to language discordance in healthcare. We discuss issues pertaining to i) the assessment of the patient and healthcare professional's language proficiency, ii) the decision making on whether to seek language support, iii) the currently available options of language support and the development of skills that ensure their effective use, iv) the inclusion of professional interpreters in the interprofessional healthcare team, and v) the transition from single- to integrated language support solutions that allow for a more comprehensive approach to multilingual healthcare communication. We present a set of recommendations for good practice.
CONCLUSION
Understanding the needs, capabilities and shortcoming of the available language- support solutions and the implications arising from them can enable decision makers to make informed decisions that ensure the quality of communication and care. The integrated use of language-support solutions at different stages of care can create the conditions for effective communication, while promoting patient and family participation in the decision making process. Evidence-based interventions that can inform the implementation of solutions are required.
To provide guidance on multilingual and language discordant healthcare communication.
DISCUSSION
We provide a critical reflection on common stumbling blocks to securing (professional) language support, as well as on the currently available solutions to language discordance in healthcare. We discuss issues pertaining to i) the assessment of the patient and healthcare professional's language proficiency, ii) the decision making on whether to seek language support, iii) the currently available options of language support and the development of skills that ensure their effective use, iv) the inclusion of professional interpreters in the interprofessional healthcare team, and v) the transition from single- to integrated language support solutions that allow for a more comprehensive approach to multilingual healthcare communication. We present a set of recommendations for good practice.
CONCLUSION
Understanding the needs, capabilities and shortcoming of the available language- support solutions and the implications arising from them can enable decision makers to make informed decisions that ensure the quality of communication and care. The integrated use of language-support solutions at different stages of care can create the conditions for effective communication, while promoting patient and family participation in the decision making process. Evidence-based interventions that can inform the implementation of solutions are required.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- closed
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1016/j.pec.2020.09.015
- PMID 32988684
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/242088
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