Language barriers in nursing care of foreign language speaking patients
qualitative descriptive research
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14528/snr.2018.52.2.207Keywords:
hospital, nurses, communication, interviewAbstract
Introduction: Language barriers in nursing care of foreign language speaking patients affect the quality of healthcare and may hinder effective communication between the nurse and the patient. All patients regardless of their gender, nationality, race, ethnicity, religious affiliation or any other personal characteristic have the right to equal treatment in healthcare. The purpose of the study was to investigate how nurses deal with language barriers when nursing foreign language speaking patients.
Methods: Qualitative research methodology was used. Semi structured interviews (n = 5) were conducted by purposive sampling. Conventional content analysis was used for data analysis and synthesis.
Results: Content analysis gave three main categories: Contact with a foreign language speaking patient (1); dealing with the foreign language speaking patient (2) and solving communication problems with a foreign language speaking patient (3). Research showed that dealing with foreign language speaking patients causes distress for the participants in the study, although they still manage to maintain an emphatic therapeutic relationship and are aware of the dangers that language barriers can pose to the safety of the patient.
Discussion and conclusion: Participants in the study pointed out that language barrier may represent a risk in securing the safety of patients. This area of interest has not been the subject of much research in Slovenia, so it would be necessary to conduct research into different aspects of language and cultural barriers, and to systematically regulate the treatment of foreign language speaking patients. This would significantly contribute to efficient communication and thus, safe and quality nursing care.
Downloads
Metrics
References
Bernard, A., Whitaker, M., Ray, M., Rockich, A., Barton-Baxter, M., Barnes, S.L., et al., 2006. Impact of language barrier on acute care medical professionals is dependent upon role. Journal of Professional Nursing, 22(6), pp. 355–358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2006.09.001 PMid:17141719
Bofulin, M. & Bešter, R., 2010. Enako zdravstvo za vse: imigranti v slovenskem zdravstvenem sistemu. In: M. Medvešek, & B. Romana, eds. Državljani tretjih držav ali tretjerazredni državljani?: integracija državljanov tretjih držav v Sloveniji. Ljubljana: Inštitut za narodnostna vprašanja, pp. 270–311.
Bofulin, M., Farkaš Lainšček J., Gosenca, K., Jelenc, A., Keršič Svetel, M., Lipovec Čebron, U., et al., 2016. Komuniciranje. In: U. Lipovec Čebron, ed. Kulturne kompetence in zdravstvena oskrba: priročnik za razvijanje kulturnih kompetenc zdravstvenih delavcev. Ljubljana: Nacionalni inštitut za javno zdravje, pp. 197–246.
Brodie, K., Abel, G. & Burt, J., 2016. Language spoken at home and the association between ethnicity and doctor-patient communication in primary care: analysis of survey data for South Asian and White British patients. BMJ Open, 6(3), art. ID e010042 http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010042
Burt, J., Lloyd, C., Campbell, J., Roland, M. & Abel, G., 2016. Variations in GP-patient communication by ethnicity, age, and gender: evidence from a national primary care patient survey. British Journal of General Practice, 66(642), pp. e47–e52. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp15X687637 PMid:26541182; PMCid:PMC4684035
Coleman., J-S. & Angosta, A.D., 2016. The lived experiences of acute-care bedside registered nurses caring for patients and their families with limited English proficiency: a silent shift. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 26(5/6), pp. 678–689. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13567 PMid:27571582
Collins English Dictionary, 2017. Definition of language barrier. Available at: https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/language-carrier [19. 4. 2017].
Creswell, J. W., 2013. Qualitative inquiry and Research design: choosing among five approaches. 3rd ed. Tousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, pp. 42–69.
Fatahi, N., Mattsson, B., Lundgren, S.M. & Hellström, M., 2010. Nurse radiographers' experiences of communication with patients who do not speak the native language. Journal of Avanced Nursing, 66(4), pp. 774–783. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2009.05236.x
Flores, G., 2006. Language barriers to health care in the United States. New England Journal of Medicine, 355(3), pp. 229–231. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp058316
Hsieh, H.-F. & Shannon, E.S., 2005. Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qualitative Health Research, 15(9), pp. 1277–1288. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732305276687 PMid:16204405
Jelenc, A., Svetel Keršič, M. & Lipovec Čebron, U., 2016. Kulturne kompetence in zdravstvena oskrba. In: U. Čebron, ed. Kulturne kompetence in zdravstvena oskrba: priročnik za razvijanje kulturnih kompetenc zdravstvenih delavcev. Ljubljana: Nacionalni inštitut za javno zdravje, pp. 11–24.
Juergens, C.P., Dabin, B., French, J.K., Kritharides, L., Hyun, K., Kilian, J., et al., 2016. English as a second language and outcomes of patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes: results from the Concordance registry. The Medical Journal of Australia, 204(6), art. ID e239. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja15.00812 PMid:27031399
Kelley, F.J. & Klopf, M.I., 2008. Second language learning in a family nurse practitioner and nurse midwifery diversity education project. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 20(10), pp. 479–485. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-7599.2008.00353.x
Luborsky, M.R. & Rubinstein, R.L., 1995. sampling in qualitative research: rationale, issues and methods. Researching on Aging, 17(1), pp. 89–113.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0164027595171005 PMid:22058580; PMCid:PMC3207270
Mallows, D., 2014. Language issues in migration and integration: perspectives from teachers and learners. London: British Council. PMid:24708006
McCarthy, J., Cassidy, I., Graham, M.M. & Tuohy, D., 2013. Conversations through barriers of language and interpretation. British Journal of Nursing, 22(6), pp. 335–339. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2013.22.6.335
Meuter, R.F., Gallois, C., Segalowitz, N.S., Ryder, A.G. & Hocking, J., 2015. Overcoming language barriers in healthcare:
a protocol for investigating safe and effective communication when patients or clinicians use a second language. BioMed Central Health Services Research, 15(1), p. 371. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-015-1024-8
Ministrstvo za notranje zadeve, 2014. Vključevanje v slovensko družbo, informacije za tujce. Ljubljana: Ministrstvo za notranje zadeve.
Morel, A., 2009. Komunikacija s pacientom v večjezični družbi: tolmačenje v zdravstvu v Sloveniji: magistrsko delo. Ljubljana: Univerza v Ljubljani, Filozofska fakulteta, Oddelek za prevajalstvo.
Nacionalni inštitut za javno zdravje (NIJZ), 2016. Standard za zagotavljanje enakosti v zdravstveni oskrbi "ranljivih" skupin in orodje za samoocenjevanje zdravstvenih ustanov. Ljubljana: Nacionalni inštitut za javno zdravje, pp. 83–96.
Nacionalni inštitut za javno zdravje (NIJZ), 2018. Večjezično zdravstvo in zakaj ga v Sloveniji (še) ni. Available at: http://www.nijz.si/sl/vecjezicno-zdravstvo-in-zakaj-ga-v-sloveniji-se-ni [12. 2. 2018].
Parveen, A.A. & Watson, R., 2017. Language barriers and their impact on provision of care to patients with limited English proficiency: nurses' perspectives. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 27(5/6), pp. e1152–e1160. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.14204
Park, E.R., Chun, M.B.J., Betancourt, J.R., Green, A.R., & Weissman, J.S., 2009. Measuring residents' perceived preparedness and skillfulness to deliver cross-cultural care. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 24(9), pp. 1053–1056. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-009-1046-1 PMid:19557481; PMCid:PMC2726883
Polit, D.F. & Beck, C.T., 2012. Nursing Research: generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health, pp. 515–531.
Rocque, R. & Leanza, Y. A., 2015. Systematic review of patients'experiences in communicating with primary care physicians: intercultural encounters and a balance between vulnerability and integrity. PLoS One, 10(10), art. ID e0139577. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0139577
Sandelowski, M., 2000. Focus on Research Methods: whatever happened to qualitative description. Research in Nursing & Health, 23, pp. 334–340.
Schwei, R.J., Del Pozo, S., Agger-Gupta, N., Alvarado-Little, W., Bagchi, A., Chen, A.H., et al., 2016. Changes in research on language barriers in health care since 2003: a cross-sectional review study. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 54, pp. 36–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2015.03.001
Statistični urad Republike Slovenije, 2017. Prebivalstvo, Slovenija, 1. januar 2017. Available at: http://www.stat.si/StatWeb/News/Index/6619 [04. 06. 2017].
Streubert, H.J. & Carpenter, D.R., 2011. Qualitative research in nursing: advancing the humanistic imperative. 5th ed. Philadelphia: Walters Kluwer health.
Urad za narodnosti Republike Slovenije, 2017. Manjšine. Available at: http://www.un.gov.si/si/manjsine/ [12. 6. 2017].
van Rosse, F., de Bruijne, M., Suurmond, J., Essink-Bot, M.L., Wagner, C., 2016. Language barriers and patient safety risks in hospital care: a mixed methods study. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 54, pp. 45–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2015.03.012
Zakon o javni rabi Slovenščine (ZJRS), 2010. Uradni list Republike Slovenije, št. 8.
Zakon o pacientovih pravicah (ZPacP), 2008. Uradni list Republike Slovenije, št. 15.
Zakon o tujcih (ZTuj-2), 2017. Uradni list Republike Slovenije, št. 16.
Zendedel, R., Schouten, B.C., van Weert, J.C.M. & van den Putte, B., 2016. Informal interpreting in general practice: the migrant patient's voice. Ethnicity in Health, 23(2), pp. 158–173. https://doi.org/10.1080/13557858.2016.1246939 PMid:27764953
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
As the author undersigned hereby, I transfer, assign, or otherwise convey the following authorship rights as comprised in the Copyright and Related Rights Act (CRRA) to the Slovenian Nursing Review, Ob železnici 30A, 1000 Ljubljana: the right of reproduction - the exclusive right to fix the work in a material medium or in another copy directly or indirectly, temporarily or permanently, by any means and in any digital form, in whole or in part (CRRA, Article 23); the right of distribution (CRRA, Article 24); the right of making a work available and accessible through the internet (CRRA, Article 32a); the right of transformation, especially the exclusive right to translate a pre-existing work (CRRA, Article 33). The transfer of author rights applies to the article in its entirety, including pictorial and/or graphic works and possible supplements. The transfer of rights is exclusive and unlimited in duration or territory.
