Question

Imagine speaking with a person whose first language is not English about experiences with health care professionals who do not speak his or her language. Identify social determinants for this person and interventions for meeting their needs.

Answer 1

Social determinants for language related problem

Healthcare sector is a place where communication is more important. Effective and proper communication is necessary for client satisfaction. In healthcare there is more need of effective communication because that a matter of a life also. If physician didn't get proper information it will change the course of patient satisfaction. Language is a part of communication. If patient and doctor didn't understand language of each other then there will be misunderstanding between them. This misunderstanding can lead to fatal consequences.

In a country like America, English is the main official language. This language is widely used in America as well as pther counyries also. In healthcare sectors also English is the main language, in all written and verbal assignments of healthcare is in English language. If a chinese migrant patient go to a hospital in America and speaking in his language. Without interpretor it will be difficult for healthcare professional to understand and more important the patient will not understand English, if he didn't know English language.

Many social determinants are there effecting language barrier like

Education level and Literacy

If the education level of patient is low then it is difficult in assessment and services. His language can be regional which healthcare professional can't understand and he didn't get healthcare professionals language. Many things in a hospital we can do self by reading manuals, boards and gazettes in hospital. A illiterate or low educate person can't access the information by self reading. Additional difficulties arises because he can't understand medication instructions, communicating with health care providers, and attaining health information.

Racism

Racism leads to low education, mental health and socioeconomic levels. Racism also diminishes the interaction between relationships with other group.Which further leads to language problem.

Migrants

Level of acculturation also impacts the language berries. Migrants which can't understand local language are the biggest threat to healthcare professional, which is also leads to social language barrier.

Age

Age is also a social factors which impact language. In older people it is difficult to understand the language because of low mental activity.

Socioeconomic status

Socioeconomic status of people also impact the language. People with low socioeconomic status are not tends towards education and information. Further education leads them towards language barrier.

Interventions to meeting their needs

1. Use the institution's interpreter resources.

2. Get the help of other staff professional who can speak and understand the language of that person.

3. Use care when other staff member who can understand language of this patient.

4. Try to interpret medication in his language.

5. If any relative or family member understand English, then give instructions to him, he will convey the instructions to the patient.