Examining the Effects of Language Barriers for Non-native English Speakers in the Healthcare System in Northwest Ohio

Hundreds of thousands of people in the state of Ohio speak a language other than English, and communication in a predominantly English-speaking state can prove not only cumbersome, but dangerous as well. Patients who have difficulties communicating with their healthcare providers experience higher rates of medical error, adverse medical reactions because of improper drug use, longer hospital stays, and more hospital readmissions than the general population. Additionally, they experience high rates of anxiety and frustration when receiving medical care, which causes resentment and mistrust of the healthcare system. This study investigated language barriers in healthcare systems across Northwest Ohio by viewing the issue from the perspectives of the patient. The hypothesis of the study is that language is a barrier to adequate medical care for limited English proficiency (LEP) populations in Northwest Ohio. A qualitative cross-sectional study was completed via a Qualtrics survey that collected responses from 31 non-native English-speaking participants in the Northwest Ohio area. The survey found three common themes amongst the participants, including 1) difficulty understanding medical/health terminology in English; 2) a negative emotion state due to miscommunication; 3) use of nonprofessional translation services. These themes indicate that language barriers in the area are negatively impacting LEP patients, and that there is still more to be done to improve communication. One solution to this issue included the use of online translators as a means of communication between English-speaking providers and LEP patients.