Implications of Language Barriers for Healthcare Assignment
Discussion 2
Case study
P.H., a 26-year-old Spanish-speaking patient, is accompanied by her younger bilingual daughter to translate and presents with abdominal pain that has been worsening for the last two days. She was previously treated with omeprazole and OTC medication for the same problem.
Socioeconomic
What the patient does for a living is an important factor that needs to be considered. According to the American Psychological Association, socioeconomic status largely affects human functioning, including mental and physical health. Research studies have shown that socioeconomic status affects a person’s health outcomes and health care (McMaughan et al., 2020). People of lower socioeconomic status are expected to have a lower life expectancy, have worse self-reported health, suffer from more chronic conditions, receive fewer medications and diagnostic tests, and have limited access to health care services due to cost compared with those of higher socioeconomic status. Implications of Language Barriers for Healthcare Assignment
Spirituality
Clinical studies suggest that spirituality plays an essential role in health. According to the international consensus conference on spiritual care in health care, spiritual community participation is linked with healthier lives comprising less suicide and depression, greater longevity, and less substance abuse (Bożek et al., 2020). Spirituality influences key outcomes in illness, for example, quality of life and medical care decisions.
Lifestyle
Unhealthy lifestyle habits are closely associated with the occurrence of peptic ulcer disease. Environmental elements such as nicotine and smoking reduce or inhibit bicarbonate production and mucus, thus increasing acid secretion. Intake of spicy, coffee and fatty foods aggravates the discomfort experienced in PUD (Yegen, 2018). Chronic use of NSAIDs increases the susceptibility to mucosal injury by inhibiting COX 1 in the GIT, reducing prostaglandin production and its cycloprotective effects in the G.I. mucosa. Psychological factors and emotional stress are common contributors to PUD. This is because of increased acid production from the stomach in cases of stressful situations.
Culture
Culture affects an individual’s perception of illness, health, death, beliefs about disease causes, and the type of treatment they require. It is important to keep the patient’s cultural beliefs in mind as this influences the overall decision to make a diagnosis and a treatment plan (Nair & Adetayo, 2019). Ensure that you perceive how the patient understands their health or illness. Implications of Language Barriers for Healthcare Assignment
Sensitive Issue
In this case study, the language barrier is a common sensitive issue. Research studies have shown that the language barrier indirectly impacts patients’ healthcare quality. It is responsible for both the health care provider and the patient. According to Al Shamsi et al. (2020), patients with language barriers are prone to consume more healthcare services and have more adverse events. In the case study, having a translator can present various problems as the young daughter may fail to translate the complex information correctly and may lack the relevant language skills or knowledge of medical terminology.
Targeted questions
References
Al Shamsi, H., Almutairi, A. G., Al Mashrafi, S., & Al Kalbani, T. (2020). Implications of Language Barriers for Healthcare: A Systematic Review. Oman Medical Journal, 35(2), e122–e122. https://doi.org/10.5001/omj.2020.40
Bożek, A., Nowak, P. F., & Blukacz, M. (2020). The Relationship Between Spirituality, Health-Related Behavior, and Psychological Well-Being. Frontiers in Psychology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01997
McMaughan, D. J., Oloruntoba, O., & Smith, M. L. (2020). Healthcare Socioeconomic Status and Access to: Interrelated Drivers for Healthy Aging. Frontiers in Public Health, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00231
Nair, L., & Adetayo, O. A. (2019). Cultural Competence and Ethnic Diversity in Healthcare. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open, 7(5), e2219. https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000002219
Yegen, B. C. (2018). Lifestyle and Peptic Ulcer Disease. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 24(18), 2034–2040. https://doi.org/10.2174/1381612824666180510092303 Implications of Language Barriers for Healthcare Assignment
Case study assigned:
Paloma Hernandez, 26-year-old, Spanish speaking patient who presents to the clinic for the last 2 days in a row complaining of abdominal pain that is getting worse. The first visit the staff relied on her younger bilingual daughter to translate. She was treated with Omeprazole and encouraged to take OTC medication. Today she presents with the same problem. Her daughter states it is the same problem but worse today.
post an explanation of the specific socioeconomic, spiritual, lifestyle, and other cultural factors associated with the patient you were assigned. Explain the issues that you would need to be sensitive to when interacting with the patient, and why. Provide at least five targeted questions you would ask the patient to build his or her health history and to assess his or her health risks. Language Barriers for Healthcare Assignment