At worst, the getting by approach can result in the provision of inappropriate or nonbeneficial treatments and care as highlighted by Runci et al (2012), finding a higher frequency of prescription of antipsychotic drugs for Italian speaking residents in English-speaking residential care facilities than their counterparts in language specific facilities.Īlthough using an interpreter remains the gold standard for complex medical and legal discussions in all settings, in some situations, it is not appropriate or feasible to use an interpreter, yet communication remains an issue. The getting by approach has the potential for miscommunication, which may lead to inappropriate or inadequate care provision and patients’ needs being unmet. Everyday communication between health care workers and clients, when there is a language barrier, generally occurs without professional interpreters and has been described in the literature as getting by, where health care workers rely on gestures, facial expressions, and knowledge of minimal key words in the target language. However, because of issues related to cost, access, availability, and time constraints, use of professional interpreters in health care is often limited to specific aspects of care, such as comprehensive assessments, procedural consent, diagnosis, and the development of treatment plans. The use of professional interpreters is considered the gold standard. People without proficient English from non-English speaking (NES) countries may not receive equitable care if their health care workers do not speak their primary language. The ability to convey essential care needs (eg, addressing pain, help with hygiene), communicate simple safety messages, and provide orientation cues are essential in health care settings. After English, the 10 most common languages spoken at home in Australia are Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Italian, Greek, Hindi, Spanish, Punjabi, and Tagalog. In 2016, there were over 300 different languages spoken in Australian homes and more than one-fifth of Australians spoke a language other than English at home. In more recent times, migration has predominantly been from China, India, and the Middle East, with Asian countries now making up 8 out of the top 10 migration countries to Australia. For example, following the Second World War, Australia saw a high proportion of European migrants. Net overseas migration continues to increase in Australia and has shown periods of influx linked to major world events. In 2015, Australia had the ninth largest population of people born overseas worldwide and a higher proportion of overseas-born people (26%) compared with other countries founded on migration such as New Zealand (23%), Canada (22%), and the United States (14%). According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, almost half of all Australians were either born overseas or had at least one parent who was born overseas. Īustralia is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse countries in the world. ![]() However, there is potential for technology to be used to improve everyday clinical communication between patients and staff in the health care setting when used as an adjunct to professional interpreters. This raises potential concerns as most apps have not been specifically developed or validated for use in a medical or health care context. Although there is limited evidence for the effective use of translation technology in medical and health care settings, clinicians anecdotally report the use of internet and mobile apps for language translation purposes. The widespread prevalence of telemedicine and telehealth has led to an increasing acceptance of technology in health care.
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