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Language barriers in healthcare delivery
Mercy Akrofi Ansah1, Mercy Adzo Klugah1
1University of Ghana.
Communication & Medicine
|February 7, 2025
Summary
Expatriate doctors in Ghana use strategies like interpreters and gestures to overcome language barriers in patient communication. This research highlights the importance of effective communication for quality healthcare delivery.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Communication
- Medical Sociology
Background:
- Effective communication is crucial for quality healthcare.
- Language barriers pose significant challenges in expatriate doctor-patient interactions.
- Communication Accommodation Theory provides a framework for understanding these interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate language barriers in expatriate doctor-patient communication in Ghana.
- To identify strategies used by medical personnel to overcome these barriers.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study design.
- Semi-structured interviews with 16 expatriate doctors, 3 nurses, and 3 patients.
- Observation of 5 patient-doctor interactions.
- Qualitative conventional content analysis.
Main Results:
- Expatriate doctors utilize convergence strategies to bridge communication gaps.
- Implemented strategies include ad hoc interpreters, gestures, picture charts, and electronic dictionaries.
- These methods aim to facilitate understanding and improve patient care.
Conclusions:
- The findings underscore the practical challenges and adaptive strategies in cross-cultural medical communication.
- Further research into innovative solutions for language barriers in expatriate healthcare settings is recommended.
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