Language barriers during vaccination practice, the point of view of healthcare providers
Keywords:
Language barriers, Vaccination, Healthcare professionals, Vaccine hesitancy, InterpretersAbstract
Background. Language barriers are one of the main obstacles faced by migrants in accessing healthcare services. A compromised communication between migrants and Healthcare Providers in vaccination setting can result in increased vaccine hesitancy and decreased vaccine uptake. The objective of the current study is to investigate Healthcare Providers’ perceptions about linguistic barriers faced during both routinary vaccination practice and the extraordinary vaccination program for Ukrainian refugees in the Local Health Authorities of Bologna and Romagna (Italy).
Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted through the administration of a questionnaire examining Healthcare Providers’ perceptions. A descriptive analysis and a multiple logistic regression model were adopted to analyze the collected data.
Results. Language barriers resulted as an obstacle to informed consent and to doctor-patient relationship. The strategies adopted were perceived as helpful in increasing vaccination adherence, despite communication difficulties were still experienced during refugees’ vaccinations. Results suggest that the implementation of translated material and the use of professional interpreters may represent important strategies to overcome linguistic barriers, along with Healthcare Providers’ training. Healthcare Providers’ opinions could assist the implementation of new tools capable of countering language barriers.
Conclusions. The current study represents an example of providers’ involvement in understanding the complexities behind the issue of language barriers in vaccination practice.
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Al Shamsi H, Almutairi AG, Al Mashrafi S, Al Kalbani T. Implications of Language Barriers for Healthcare: A Systematic Review. Oman Med J. 2020 Apr 30;35:e122. https://doi.org/10.5001/omj.2020.40. PMID: 32411417.
Hunt LM, de Voogd KB. Are Good Intentions Good Enough?: Informed Consent Without Trained Interpreters. J Gen Intern Med. 2007 May;22:598-605. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-007-0136-1. Epub 2007 Mar 2. PMID: 17443367.
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IOM-Vaccine-Inclusion-Mapping-17-May-2021-global.pdf n.d.
2020 - Rapporto Città Metropolitana di Bologna n.d.
Di Carlo P, McDonnell B, Vahapoglu L, Good J, Seyfeddinipur M, Kordas K. Public health information for minority linguistic communities. Bull World Health Organ. 2022 Jan 1;100:78-80. https://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.21.285617. Epub 2021 Nov 17. PMID: 35017760.
Karliner LS, Jacobs EA, Chen AH, Mutha S. Do Professional Interpreters Improve Clinical Care for Patients with Limited English Proficiency? A Systematic Review of the Literature. Health Serv Res. 2007 Apr;42:727-54. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6773.2006.00629.x. PMID: 17362215.
Himmelstein J, Wright WS, Wiederman MW. U.S. medical school curricula on working with medical interpreters and/or patients with limited English proficiency. Adv Med Educ Pract. 2018 Sep 28;9:729-33. https://doi.org/10.2147/AMEP.S176028. PMID: 30319306.
Phillips SJ, Lie D, Encinas J, Ahearn CS, Tiso S. Effective use of interpreters by family nurse practitioner students: is didactic curriculum enough? J Am Acad Nurse Pract. 2011 May;23:233-8. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-7599.2011.00612.x. Epub 2011 Apr 19. PMID: 21518071.
Teunissen E, Gravenhorst K, Dowrick C, Van Weel-Baumgarten E, Van den Driessen Mareeuw F, de Brún T, et al. Implementing guidelines and training initiatives to improve cross-cultural communication in primary care consultations: a qualitative participatory European study. Int J Equity Health. 2017 Feb 10;16:32. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-017-0525-y. PMID: 28222736.
Tankwanchi AS, Bowman B, Garrison M, Larson H, Wiysonge CS. Vaccine hesitancy in migrant communities: a rapid review of latest evidence. Curr Opin Immunol. 2021 Aug;71:62-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coi.2021.05.009. Epub 2021 Jun 9. PMID: 34118728.
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