The Impact Of Language Barriers On Patient Understanding Of Medical Information And Treatment Options

Abstract

The presence of language barriers presents difficulties in attaining optimal levels of contentment among healthcare workers and patients, delivering healthcare of superior quality, and upholding patient safety. In order to tackle these difficulties, several prominent healthcare establishments provide interpreting services with the aim of enhancing healthcare accessibility, patient contentment, and communication. Nevertheless, these services contribute to the escalation of both the financial expenses and the length of the treatment process. The objective of this study is to examine the effects of language barriers on healthcare and provide strategies to overcome the difficulties. We conducted a search for relevant research on the impact of language barriers in healthcare by using two databases: PubMed and Medline. Our research revealed that language difficulties in healthcare result in communication breakdowns between healthcare providers and patients, leading to decreased satisfaction for both parties and compromising the quality of healthcare delivery and patient safety. Furthermore, the analysis determined that translator services had an indirect impact on both the cost and duration of treatment appointments. A research documented the use of online translation tools, such as Goo[1]gle Translate and MediBabble, in hospitals. This deployment resulted in a 92% satisfaction rate among medical practitioners and patients, while also enhancing the quality of healthcare provision and patient safety. The presence of language barriers significantly diminishes the satisfaction levels of both medical practitioners and patients, while also compromising the quality of healthcare delivery and patient safety. Several healthcare organizations use translator services, which result in higher expenses and longer treatment appointments. Our research findings indicate that the use of online translation tools such as Google Translate and MediBabble might enhance healthcare quality and increase satisfaction levels for medical personnel and consumers.