[Therapeutic power of misunderstandings. Does communication function through cultural barriers?].
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Communication is an essential component of skilled nursing-practice. As 20 per cent of Australians are born overseas and come from a non-English speaking background (NESB), effective communication becomes a challenge for nurses who do not share the same language. Nursing use of an interpreter service is an essential component of practice in a multicultural community. This was one of the findings of a two-year participatory action research study which explored the practice of nurses caring for non-English speaking families. The intention of this paper is to explore this crucial aspect of the findings; nursing use of interpreters and the strategies instigated by the nurses to work more effectively with them.
BACKGROUND: Refugees are likely to suffer from complex medical conditions due to persecution and exile. The symptoms may persist several years after the individual has fled his or her homeland. Knowledge of refugees' health condition in their receptive countries is insufficient. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Qualitative interviews with 12 general practitioners (GPs) in and around Oslo. A narrative approach was chosen for the analysis. RESULTS: The GPs' consultations with refugee patients seem to be characterised by uncertainty on the relevance of their refugee experience to their health condition. The GPs were reluctant to invite the patient to talk about traumatic experiences connected to their homelands, the escape and the exile. Rather, they express that unfamiliar culture and foreign language act as barriers to good communication between doctor and patient. Specialised health services seem neither to be accessible to the patients nor to be providers of clinical supervision for the GPs. INTERPRETATION: Cultural status seems to cover up experiences related to escape and exile. A lack of specialised health services seems to place the GP as a single actor in the medical service to refugee patients. The interviews revealed a need for instruction material adapted to the GPs' situation.
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The article discusses the rising interest in women's health issues, including demographics, economic issues, and the unique health concerns of the postmenopausal woman. Practice opportunities abound regarding hormone therapy; heart disease; diabetes; osteoporosis; and psychosocial, health and diet, and lifestyle issues for this age group. Barriers to effective communication between the pharmacist and the postmenopausal woman are examined, and suggestions are made to improve communication skills. Patient assessment and the development and implementation of care plans and continued patient monitoring are reviewed. Resources for women's health care are suggested for both the practitioner and the patient.
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Unique obstacles must be overcome when providing medical care to patients who have an incomplete command of the English language. Serious barriers to effective communication may arise at the exact point where our health care system must succeed or fail. Miscommunication, differences in attitudes about health care, and various other misunderstandings interfere with or frustrate good health care for these patients and their families. Such difficulties are best overcome by the use of a professional interpreter who can ensure good communication between patients and health care professionals. My daily experiences as a professional medical interpreter and translator in Spanish provide insights into the complexities of bilingual and bicultural communication in the hospital setting. Although the examples given relate to Hispanic patients, the lessons learned can be extended to other foreign language patients as well.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
This article reports on research investigating barriers to achieving patient-centered communication (PCC) with patients who have stroke-related communication disorders. A focus group, including people who had strokes and their family members, identified PCC issues they encounter when communicating with health care providers. The two key themes that emerged from this research were the desire to be treated with respect and the importance of allowing adequate time for a person with a speech disorder to communicate. Suggestions are given for improving PCC with people who have stroke-related communication disorders.
OBJECTIVE: To review the current health services literature related to quality of care for persons with disabilities and to highlight the need for a unique framework for conceptualizing quality and patient safety issues for this population. DESIGN: Drawing on quality measurement theory, we formulate a multi-dimensional model of quality of care for persons with disability. This model is then used to identify and summarize findings from existing health services research that relate to the quality, of care for persons with disability. STUDY SELECTION: We searched MEDLINE and other databases for primary research and review articles containing the phrases 'quality of care', 'patient safety', 'access', 'patient experience', and 'coordination of care' in conjunction with the words 'disability' or 'impairment'. RESULTS: A review of health services research suggests several potential issues in the areas of clinical quality, access, client experience, and coordination. Physical barriers, transportation, communication difficulties, and client and provider attitudes present barriers to receiving appropriate client-centered care. Communication difficulties between provider and client may increase risk for accidental injury and decrease the quality of the client experience. Frequent contact with the health care system and the complexity of an individual's situation also increase the risk of accidental injury. Coordination, the 'lubricant' that facilitates links for all areas of quality for a person with disability, presents the most significant opportunity for improvement, because multiple medical and social providers are typically involved in the care of individuals with disabling conditions. CONCLUSION: Health care providers need to embrace a multi-disciplinary approach to quality to meet the needs of persons with disabilities. Funders and purchasers need to provide flexibility in funding to enable a comprehensive primary care approach, while health service researchers need to adopt a broad view of quality to capture issues of importance for persons with disabilities.