On February 26, 2012
Abstract
The aim of this project is to analyze the challenges that hinder efficient communication in the healthcare sector. Obstacles can obstruct or disrupt communication through different means. Instances of these obstacles comprise cultural disparities, language variances, and limited health literacy.
Using unfamiliar medical terminology can hinder effective communication in clinical encounters, according to a study by Koch-Weser, DeJong, and Rudd (2009). This can result in increased patient anxiety and potentially inferior health outcomes.
The primary objective of this study is to determine the approaches employed in the healthcare sector for tackling communication difficulties between healthcare practitioners and patients.
Barriers to effective communication in healthcare include:
Introduction
The limited utilization of health services, also known as healthcare barriers, can hinder vulnerable patients from accessing necessary healthcare services. These barriers can be caused by geography, culture, socioeconomics, organizational issues or a combination of these factors. Effective communication is crucial in ensuring patient safety, quality of care and protection of patients’ rights.
The article focuses on the challenges that individuals may encounter when their health beliefs or expectations do not align with the suggestions of their healthcare provider. These difficulties can hinder their access to the benefits of healthcare services, which include seeking and undergoing regular, professional healthcare services for prevention or treatment of health issues.
Review of Literature
Healthcare and its effects on the nation are important topics in our society today, but we often fail to consider the various geographical barriers that hinder patients from accessing sufficient care.
Living in a rural area with a lack of healthcare professionals is a typical geographical obstacle. Many doctors opt to work in suburban or urban areas instead. Other geographical barriers involve limited access to healthcare facilities, doctors’ offices, and hospitals due to inadequate bus routes or parking options. Moreover, the absence of childcare services at most healthcare facilities creates an access barrier for individuals who need medical treatment but cannot find someone to care for their children.
Cultural barriers also present challenges.
The primary reason for the inequality in health status and healthcare access between Anglo and minority populations in the United States stems from cultural beliefs regarding health and disease, which can be traced back to the early 1960s.
Various factors, such as race, nationality, language, ethnicity, gender, physical ability, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, mental ability, and occupation have an impact on individual values, beliefs and behaviors in relation to well-being and health. The aim of culturally competent healthcare is to provide the highest quality care to all patients regardless of their race or cultural background or level of English proficiency or literacy. To achieve this goal in the healthcare system several common strategies can be implemented including recruiting and retaining staff from diverse backgrounds hiring interpreters for non-English speakers collaborating with traditional healers employing community health workers expanding hours of operation providing training to enhance cultural awareness knowledge and skills while ensuring linguistic competency in areas like appointment scheduling medical billing advice lines and other written materials.
The significance of healthcare providers having knowledge about cultural diversity is clear in the prevention of misunderstandings and conflicts that may arise between doctors and patients. This understanding ultimately results in a reduction in legal disputes. When physicians have an understanding of the specific needs of their patients, and when patients follow the prescribed treatment, everyone involved benefits from the awareness of cultural diversity. Additionally, training on cultural diversity can also help tackle socioeconomic obstacles.
The Census Bureau reported that in 2011, there were almost 50 million people without health insurance. If you have insurance, you are paying an extra 17% to compensate for those who don’t have coverage. In 2003, the Institute of Medicine stated that inadequate healthcare access and lack of insurance lead to approximately 18,000 deaths each year in the United States.
Health care consumption can result in expensive fees and consume a considerable amount of time. These fees encompass co-payments, charges for office visits, and the costs tied to waiting for care. Moreover, there is the added investment of time spent receiving care and the distance required to travel to reach the health care facility.
The problem of healthcare disparities can be attributed to the socioeconomic divide between urban and rural regions, evident through substantial economic inequality. Furthermore, there are organizational barriers that further exacerbate this issue.
The absence of translators or translated materials can impede non-native speakers in accessing essential education and information necessary for survival. It is crucial to consider the diverse literacy levels and linguistic variations within ethnic minority groups when providing informative resources.
The text should encompass various aspects, including recognizing customary practices, detailing technical procedures and their justifications, addressing patient concerns, and importantly informing patients of their legal rights. These elements form a collective range of matters to consider.
Many of these healthcare barriers can affect us all universally, regardless of the time. Patients are often hindered from accessing entitled services due to long waiting lists. To sum up,
The focus of this review is to highlight the difficulties in the healthcare sector, particularly with regards to transparency. The challenges encountered by ethnic minorities and those without insurance are noteworthy. It is crucial to recognize that each hurdle is unique to the person’s circumstances and requires continuous adjustment.
Procedure:
To find relevant articles on healthcare barriers and barriers in healthcare communication, electronic databases were utilized. The selection process included assessing the titles and abstracts of articles published from 1990 to 2011.
References:
- Koch-Weser, S., DeJong, W., & Rudd, R. (2009). Medical word use in clinical encounters. Health Expectations, 12(4), 371-388. DOI: 10.1111/j.1369-7625.2009.00555.x. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
- Banja, J. D. (2007). My what? American Journal of Bioethics, 7(11), 13-15. DOI: 10.1080/15265160701638546. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
- (2011). Staff told to use set clinical language. Nursing Standard, 25(51), 9-9. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
- Ahmed, S., Lemkau, J., Nealeigh, N., & Mann, B. (2001). Barriers to healthcare access in a non-elderly urban poor American population. Health and Social Care In The Community, 9(6), 445-453. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2524.2001.00318.x. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
- Wood, J. T. (2004). Communication theories in action: An introduction. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
- Celik, H; Abma, T.; Widdershoven, G.; van Wijmen, F C.B.; Klinge, L. (2008). Patient Education & Counseling, 71(1), 65-71. DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2007.11.021.
- Ryan, S. (2009). Breaking down barriers part of health care reform. Nurse Practitioner, 34(12), 6-8.
- Sand-Jecklin, Kari. (2007). Journal of Community Health Nursing, 24(2), 119-129. DOI: 10.1080/07370010701316254. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
- Miller, Elissa. (2010). Nursing Standard, 25(3), 29-31. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
- Alexander, G. Caleb; Casalino, Lawrence P.; Tseng, Chien-Wen; McFadden, Diane; Meltzer, David O.. (2004). JGIM: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 19(8), 856-860. DOI: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2004.30249.x. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
Appendix:
The search of the databases included the exploration of keywords related to the domains of ‘health care barriers’, ‘use’ (of effective health care communication), and ‘minority communication barriers’.
