Impact of Language Barrier on Acute Care Medical Professionals Is Dependent Upon Role

Andrew Bernard, Misty Whitaker, Myrna Ray, Anna Rockich, Marietta Barton-Baxter, Stephen L. Barnes, Bernard Boulanger, Betty Tsuei, Paul Kearney

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Scopus citations

Abstract

Communication with patients is essential to providing quality medical care. The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of language barriers on health care professionals. It is hypothesized that these language barriers are commonly perceived by health care professionals and they are a source of workplace stress in acute care environments. We designed and distributed a survey tool of staff experiences and attitudes regarding the English-Spanish language barrier among patients in an acute care surgical environment of a tertiary medical center. Responses were anonymous, stratified by professional role and comparisons made using paired t tests. Sixty-one nurses and 36 physicians responded to the survey. Overall, 95% of nurses reported that the language barrier was an impediment to quality care, whereas 88% of physicians responded similarly (P = .0004). More nurses than physicians report experiencing stress (97% vs. 78%) and the degree of stress appears to be greater for nurses (P < .0001). The basis of stress was unique between the two groups. This study demonstrates that acute care hospital medical professionals perceive language barriers as an impediment to quality care delivery and as a source of workplace stress. Nurse and physician perceptions differ; therefore, strategies to address these language barriers should be specific to those professional roles. These barriers create a void in health care quality and safety that has effects on health care professionals.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)355-358
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Professional Nursing
Volume22
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2006

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors acknowledge the use of Hepatitis B Research Network (HBRN) samples and data as the sole contribution of the HBRN. The HBRN was funded as a Cooperative Agreement between the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the following investigators: Lewis R. Roberts, MB, ChB, PhD (U01-DK082843), Anna Suk-Fong Lok, MD (U01-DK082863), Steven H. Belle, PhD, MScHyg (U01-DK082864), Kyong-Mi Chang, MD (U01-DK082866), Michael W. Fried, MD (U01-DK082867), Adrian M. Di Bisceglie, MD (U01-DK082871), William M. Lee, MD (U01-DK082872), Harry L. A. Janssen, MD, PhD (U01-DK082874), Daryl T-Y Lau, MD, MPH (U01-DK082919), Richard K. Sterling, MD, MSc (U01-DK082923), Steven-Huy B. Han, MD (U01-DK082927), Robert C. Carithers, MD (U01-DK082943), and Mandana Khalili, MD (U01-DK082944); an interagency agreement with NIDDK: Lilia M. Ganova-Raeva, PhD (A-DK- 3002- 001); and support from the intramural program, NIDDK, National Institues of Health (NIH): Marc G. Ghany, MD. Additional funding to support this study was provided to Kyong-Mi Chang, MD, the Immunology Center (NIH/NIDDK Center of Molecular Studies in Digestive and Liver Diseases P30DK50306, NIH Public Health Service Research Grant M01-RR00040), Richard K. Sterling, MD, MSc (UL1TR000058, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH), Mandana Khalili, MD, MAS (CTSA UL1TR000004), Michael W. Fried, MD (CTSA UL1TR001111), and Anna Suk-Fong Lok (CTSA UL1RR024986 and U54TR001959.) Additional support was provided by Gilead Sciences, Inc., and Roche Molecular Systems via a CRADA through the NIDDK.

Funding Information:
The authors acknowledge the use of Hepatitis B Research Network (HBRN) samples and data as the sole contribution of the HBRN. The HBRN was funded as a Cooperative Agreement between the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the following investigators: Lewis R. Roberts, MB, ChB, PhD (U01‐DK082843), Anna Suk‐Fong Lok, MD (U01‐DK082863), Steven H. Belle, PhD, MScHyg (U01‐DK082864), Kyong‐Mi Chang, MD (U01‐DK082866), Michael W. Fried, MD (U01‐DK082867), Adrian M. Di Bisceglie, MD (U01‐DK082871), William M. Lee, MD (U01‐DK082872), Harry L. A. Janssen, MD, PhD (U01‐DK082874), Daryl T‐Y Lau, MD, MPH (U01‐DK082919), Richard K. Sterling, MD, MSc (U01‐DK082923), Steven‐Huy B. Han, MD (U01‐DK082927), Robert C. Carithers, MD (U01‐DK082943), and Mandana Khalili, MD (U01‐DK082944); an interagency agreement with NIDDK: Lilia M. Ganova‐Raeva, PhD (A‐DK‐3002‐001); and support from the intramural program, NIDDK, National Institues of Health (NIH): Marc G. Ghany, MD. Additional funding to support this study was provided to Kyong‐Mi Chang, MD, the Immunology Center (NIH/NIDDK Center of Molecular Studies in Digestive and Liver Diseases P30DK50306, NIH Public Health Service Research Grant M01‐RR00040), Richard K. Sterling, MD, MSc (UL1TR000058, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH), Mandana Khalili, MD, MAS (CTSA UL1TR000004), Michael W. Fried, MD (CTSA UL1TR001111), and Anna Suk‐Fong Lok (CTSA UL1RR024986 and U54TR001959.) Additional support was provided by Gilead Sciences, Inc., and Roche Molecular Systems via a CRADA through the NIDDK.

Keywords

  • Barrier
  • Communication
  • Quality
  • Spanish
  • Stress

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Nursing

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