Spanish Terms for Cleft Lip Within the United States

Area of Science:

• Medical Spanish Terminology
• Cleft Lip and Palate Research
• Cross-cultural Communication in Healthcare

Background:

• Accurate and acceptable terminology is crucial for effective communication in healthcare.
• Understanding variations in Spanish terms for "cleft lip" is important for serving diverse patient populations in the United States.
• Previous research has not extensively explored regional and professional differences in Spanish cleft lip terminology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the Spanish terms used for "cleft lip" among different groups within the United States.
• To assess the perceived acceptability of various Spanish terms for "cleft lip".
• To identify potential disparities in term selection based on profession and geographic location.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was administered to Spanish-speaking medical interpreters, clinicians, and parents of children with cleft lip.
• Survey questions collected data on demographics, language use, preferred terms for "cleft lip", and term acceptability.
• Statistical analyses were performed to identify significant differences in term usage and perception across respondent groups and regions.

Main Results:

• A total of 158 responses were analyzed.
• Significant differences in term preference were found based on profession: medical providers favored "labio hendido", while interpreters preferred "labio leporino".
• Geographic region also influenced term selection, with higher usage of "labio leporino" in the Northeast U.S. compared to other regions.

Conclusions:

• The choice and perception of Spanish terms for "cleft lip" are influenced by professional roles and geographic location.
• Healthcare teams should engage stakeholders to determine the most suitable terminology for their specific communities.
• Addressing these linguistic variations can improve communication and care for Spanish-speaking families affected by cleft lip.