Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
14:43
A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
Understanding Multilevel Barriers to Healthcare Access Among Immigrants with Limited English Proficiency: A
Sara Imanpour1, Sophia I Allen2, Victoria Williams3
1School of Business Administration, Penn State Harrisburg, Middletown, PA, USA. ski5100@psu.edu.
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
|July 30, 2026
Summary
Immigrants with limited English proficiency (LEP) face significant healthcare barriers. Community-driven solutions and language-accessible services are crucial for equitable preventive care access in the U.S.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sociology
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Over 25 million individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) reside in the U.S.
- LEP individuals encounter substantial obstacles in accessing preventive healthcare and cancer screenings.
- This research amplifies the experiences of LEP immigrants navigating U.S. preventive care systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the lived experiences of immigrants with LEP in accessing preventive care within the United States.
- To identify barriers across individual, microsystem, mesosystem, and macrosystem levels using Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study employing grounded theory methodology.
- Analysis of 23 in-depth interviews with immigrants with LEP.
- Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory used as an interpretive framework.
Main Results:
- Individual barriers include limited knowledge and feelings of guilt/shame.
- Microsystem barriers involve healthcare provider mistrust and anticipated mistreatment.
- Mesosystem barriers encompass lack of interpreters, language-concordant providers, and culturally unresponsive environments.
- Macrosystem barriers include transportation issues and affordability concerns.
Conclusions:
- Community-driven initiatives and culturally responsive healthcare are vital.
- Addressing linguistic needs fosters belonging, trust, and support for LEP individuals.
- Equitable access to preventive care requires systemic changes to overcome identified barriers.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Barriers to Effective Communication II
The barriers to effective communication also include cultural barriers, semantic barriers, gender barriers, and time constraints.
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
01:21Health Literacy
Health literacy is an individual's or a community's capacity to comprehend, receive, read, and use relevant healthcare information and services. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2018) defines health literacy as the cognitive and social skills that determine the ability of individuals to gain access to, understand, and use information in ways that promote and maintain good health. As a result, the WHO helps individuals manage long-term health concerns, participate in preventative programs,...
01:30Barriers to Effective Communication I
A communication barrier is any distortion or interruption during a conversation, resulting in miscommunication of the message. A good communicator should know these barriers and continuously check for the listener's understanding by obtaining feedback.
Communication barriers include the following:
Physiological barriers: They are limitations caused by a person's health condition or disability, such as hearing loss, poor eyesight, illness, or unconsciousness. An example to overcome this barrier...
Communication barriers include the following:
Physiological barriers: They are limitations caused by a person's health condition or disability, such as hearing loss, poor eyesight, illness, or unconsciousness. An example to overcome this barrier...
02:16Surveys
Often, psychologists develop surveys as a means of gathering data. Surveys are lists of questions to be answered by research participants, and can be delivered as paper-and-pencil questionnaires, administered electronically, or conducted verbally. Generally, the survey itself can be completed in a short time, and the ease of administering a survey makes it easy to collect data from a large number of people.
01:18Introduction To Health Care Delivery System
The healthcare system is constantly changing and complex. Various services are available from different healthcare providers, but gaining access to these services has become challenging for people with limited healthcare insurance. Uninsured people present a challenge to healthcare because they frequently postpone or forego treatment.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) advocates for a patient-centered, effective, safe, timely, equitable, and effective healthcare system. The National Priorities...
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) advocates for a patient-centered, effective, safe, timely, equitable, and effective healthcare system. The National Priorities...