A Case Study of the Impact of Language Concordance on Patient Care, Satisfaction, and Comfort with Sharing Sensitive Information During Medical Care

Abstract

Linguistic barriers continue to be a source of difficulty and inappropriate treatment in our healthcare system. Several studies have shown the importance of language concordance, which leads to increased trust and higher patient satisfaction. The aim of this is study is to determine patients’ satisfaction and comfort levels with sharing sensitive information in Spanish with either the health care provider or an interpreter, respectively, and to compare the results to find out if there is an option that patients prefer. There were two different groups of participants in the study. The experimental group was directly seen by Spanish-speaking student doctors while the control group was seen by English-speaking student doctors that had the aid of an interpreter. Several questions were asked to participants via survey in order to measure their comfort levels during the encounter. The results of this study demonstrate that having Spanish-speaking healthcare providers providing health care to Hispanic patients can raise patients’ comfort levels and satisfaction in contrast to having the aid of an interpreter. Providing second language training to student doctors can potentially improve patient care and reduce health inequities facing LEP patients. Given the small sample size of our study, future projects should expand the study to include more participants.

How Culture Impacts Health: The Hispanic Narrative

“…Hispanic patients who experience language discordance between health-care providers convey feelings of anxiety, shame, embarrassment, and worry about discrimination when reporting difficulty with communication (Bifulco et al, 2023). Adherence to clinical recommendations and treatment, management of chronic illnesses, and patient satisfaction tend to improve when Spanish-speaking providers care for Hispanic patients (Lopez Vera et al, 2023;Velasco-Mondragon et al, 2016). Language concordance between providers and low-proficiency-English-speakers has been shown to improve patient outcomes by reducing the probability that patients misinterpret medical situations, medication labels, or medication adverse effects (Lopez Vera et al, 2023).…”

“…Language-concordant care can help mediate language barriers between health-care providers and patients (Lopez Vera et al, 2023). Lopez Vera and colleagues (2023) defined language-concordant care as “care in which patients and physicians speak the same language” (p. 2).…”

“…Language-concordant care can help mediate language barriers between health-care providers and patients (Lopez Vera et al, 2023). Lopez Vera and colleagues (2023) defined language-concordant care as “care in which patients and physicians speak the same language” (p. 2). Hispanic patients who experience language discordance between health-care providers convey feelings of anxiety, shame, embarrassment, and worry about discrimination when reporting difficulty with communication (Bifulco et al, 2023).…”

A Proposal to Teach Medical Students How to Use Interpreters

“…The study undertaken by Lopez Vera et al (2023) accentuates the significance of mitigating language barriers and offering language-concordant healthcare to enhance healthcare accessibility and quality for patients of Spanish-speaking origin throughout the nation. 9 Incorporating formal training into medical education has the potential to help students provide culturally competent care to LEP patients throughout their careers.…”

“…The provision of training to physicians and medical students in the utilization of interpreters when caring for LEP patients has been shown to improve healthcare outcomes. 9 Exposure to appropriate communication protocols with interpreters during the early stages of medical education can equip future physicians with the requisite skills to navigate linguistic barriers and provide culturally sensitive care throughout their clinical training, residency programs, and future practice.…”