Background: Effective communication is crucial in perioperative healthcare settings. However, language barriers hinder this communication. In the United States, 8% of individuals over age 5 have a non-English language preference (NELP). Lack of language concordance between patients and healthcare clinicians has been linked to poorer healthcare metrics and outcomes. Despite these challenges, limited research has focused specifically on language barriers in perioperative settings, and few studies have captured experiential data from both caregivers and clinicians.
Aims: This study aimed to explore whether language discordance between clinicians and caregivers is associated with lower perceived quality of care by either caregivers or clinicians. We also explored whether the interpreting modality impacts perceptions of care by either caregivers or clinicians.
Methods: This study employed a mixed-methods approach, composed of 9-item 5-point Likert scale questionnaires and explanatory sequential semi-structured interviews of caregivers and clinicians in a large academic medical center. We analyzed caregiver quantitative data using a Mann-Whitney U test. Interview transcripts from caregivers and clinicians underwent thematic analysis.
Results: The caregiver and clinician participant response rates were 60% and 69%, respectively. Analysis of caregiver surveys revealed no significant differences between NELP and ELP caregiver responses. Clinician survey analysis revealed significant discrepancies between awareness of interpretation services and true availability of these services in perioperative areas. Major themes identified in caregiver interviews included informational quality, trust, perceived understanding, and overall satisfaction. Major themes identified in clinician interviews included communication barriers, system improvement suggestions, and communication facilitators.
Conclusions: This study underscores the importance of preoperative patient/caregiver education to ensure adequate comprehension and understanding in the perioperative setting, particularly within NELP populations. Additionally, the results suggest that in-person interpretation services may improve patient and clinician satisfaction.
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