Language Barriers in Medicine
A study conducted by the Institute of Medicine has revealed that 90 million adults in the US have little health vocabulary and literacy. These 90 million individuals have issues following prescriptions and instructions/diagnoses given by the doctor due to limited medical jargon. Health literacy refers to an individual's ability to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. This deficiency can have profound implications for both patients and healthcare providers.
For patients, limited health literacy means difficulty and challenges in navigating healthcare. Understanding medical information, such as prescription instructions or explanations of health conditions, becomes a difficult task. Misinterpretation of medical information can lead to improper management of health conditions, exacerbating existing health issues or creating new ones. This, in turn, contributes to poorer health outcomes and increased healthcare costs as patients may not adhere to treatment plans or seek necessary medical attention promptly.
Poor health literacy significantly impacts healthcare providers in outpatient settings, posing challenges that affect both patient care and operational efficiency. Providers often spend increased time explaining diagnoses, treatment plans, and medication instructions to patients with limited health literacy, leading to longer consultations and ineffective care. This need to repeat and clarify information can disrupt schedules and limit the number of patients seen each day.
Miscommunication stemming from poor health literacy can result in incorrect self-care practices, missed appointments, or non-adherence to treatment plans, necessitating more frequent follow-up visits. Moreover, misunderstandings may contribute to higher rates of medical errors and adverse events, posing risks to patient safety and potentially exposing providers to legal liabilities.
These impacts translate into direct costs through increased operational expenses and resource utilization, such as additional educational materials and translation services. Indirectly, poor health literacy can reduce clinic productivity, impacting provider satisfaction and contributing to burnout. Patient outcomes are also affected, with lower health literacy linked to worse health outcomes and increased healthcare utilization, which further complicates continuity of care for providers.
Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach, including improved patient education strategies and support services tailored to diverse literacy levels, particularly in underserved communities where health disparities are prevalent.
ShadowNurse provides patients with nurses that understand their needs and can explain medical jargon to them. This can be extremely helpful to patients who are not fluent in English, as well as individuals with limited health literacy. These nurses will strengthen communication between patients and providers and ensure that there is effective understanding on both sides.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/study-many-cant-read-the-label/
