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Documenting language barriers in a general hospital psychiatry setting
Krystel Arpin-Gemme1,2, Eden Noah Gelgoot1,2, Alessandra Miklavcic1,2
1Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry, McGill University.
Transcultural Psychiatry
|April 25, 2023
Summary
Language barriers significantly impact patient care in Canadian psychiatric wards. Documentation is inconsistent, and professional interpreters are underutilized, necessitating cultural and policy changes for equitable care.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Health Services Research
- Sociolinguistics
Background:
- Language barriers impede effective patient care.
- Professional interpreters are crucial for equitable healthcare access.
- Documentation of language barriers is recommended in medical records.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine language documentation and interpreter utilization in a Canadian inpatient psychiatry setting.
- To identify challenges in documenting language barriers.
- To propose recommendations for optimizing interpreting services.
Main Methods:
- Mixed methods study involving patient interviews and retrospective medical chart audits.
- 122 patients interviewed regarding communication abilities (English/French).
- Qualitative analysis of 19 patients with documented language barriers.
Main Results:
- Language barriers were documented in 68% of charts for patients with barriers.
- Professional interpreters were never used when barriers were documented.
- Documentation was inconsistent, vague, and conflated language barriers with psychopathology.
Conclusions:
- A cultural shift is needed to ensure optimal care for language-diverse patients.
- Clinician education and standardized documentation are recommended.
- Institutional policies for systematic interpreter use are essential for patient safety and rights.
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