53 A qualitative analysis of language barriers’ impact on end-of-life care (EoLC) consultations and the current strategies general practitioners (GPs) use to address these challenges

<h3>Background and Aims</h3> Across London and the United Kingdom (UK), non-English speaking patients often experience disparities in their quality of end-of-life care (EoLC), compared to English-speaking patients. Therefore, this research project aims to assess how language barriers affect General Practitioners’ (GPs) EoLC consultations, the effectiveness of existing strategies employed to manage these barriers and offers recommendations to enhance GPs’ EoLC services to promote better patient-centred care. <h3>Methods</h3> A qualitative study was carried out with 7 GPs and 3 GP trainees from South England. Semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed using Microsoft Teams. Employing phenomenology, inductive thematic analysis captured a holistic understanding of GPs’ experiences. <h3>Results</h3> From the interviews, five interrelated themes emerged: 1) significance of communication, 2) practical implications of language barriers, 3) challenges for doctor-patient relationships, 4) current strategies used for language barriers, and 5) prospects of overcoming language barriers. <h3>Discussion</h3> This study reveals language barriers contribute to increased patient misunderstanding, uninformed decision-making, inadequate care plans, and hindered patient engagement. Furthermore, the lack of centralised language resources and inconsistent quality of translators exacerbate these challenges. It is evident there is a need for improved support systems due to the emotional toll on GPs due to navigating language barriers. Addressing these issues is crucial to ensuring equitable, culturally sensitive EoLC and enhancing GP well-being. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Improving the accessibility of EoLC resources in diverse languages, particularly those in high demand is crucial. Recommendations include enhancing cultural competency training for GPs, standardising multilingual resources, improving translation services, and providing GPs with better support systems. Future research should expand recruitment to validate findings across London and the UK, identifying regions needing significant language support. Incorporating patient experiences is essential to fully understand the impact of language barriers, inform targeted interventions and improve EoLC outcomes.