A positive patient-doctor relationship is crucial for a healthy life, and recent research has highlighted the impact of a common language in this relationship. According to a retrospective cohort study conducted by researchers at the University of Ottawa and the University of Manitoba, Canadians with hypertension who preferred a language other than English or French were 36% less likely to experience major adverse cardiovascular events if they received care from a doctor who spoke their language. Additionally, these patients were 28% less likely to die compared to those who did not have access to language-concordant care.
The study, led by Michael Reaume, a resident in the Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Nephrology, involved 124,583 respondents who spoke nearly 100 different languages. The findings, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, emphasize the importance of addressing language barriers in healthcare systems to improve patient outcomes.
Reaume emphasizes the need to collect information on patients’ preferred languages systematically. This data can help match patients with healthcare providers who are proficient in their language, as well as identify individuals who would benefit from professional interpretation services. By optimizing the delivery of language-concordant care, significant reductions in cardiovascular outcomes and improved population health can be achieved.
The study proposes several recommendations to address language barriers in healthcare, including advocating for equitable access to medical education for minority language communities to ensure linguistic diversity among healthcare providers. It also suggests collecting information on the languages spoken by patients and healthcare providers to facilitate better matching of language preferences.
More information on this study can be found in the article titled “Patient-Physician Language Concordance and Cardiovascular Outcomes Among Patients With Hypertension” published in JAMA Network Open. The University of Ottawa provided this research, and further details can be accessed on their website.
In conclusion, addressing language barriers in healthcare is essential for providing quality care and improving patient outcomes. By prioritizing language-concordant care and promoting linguistic diversity among healthcare providers, we can work towards a healthcare system that meets the needs of all patients, regardless of their preferred language.
