How can healthcare providers improve communication with Spanish-speaking patients

Healthcare providers can improve communication with Spanish-speaking patients by implementing several key strategies:

1. Language Concordance and Medical Spanish Proficiency: Providers who speak Spanish can create more effective communication and build trust with Spanish-speaking patients. Training and curricula to improve Spanish language skills and cultural competency, such as medical Spanish courses and use of Spanish-speaking standardized patients in training, are highly beneficial. ^{1, 2, 3}

2. Use of Professional Medical Interpreters: Employing trained interpreters rather than relying on ad hoc interpretation by family members or untrained staff ensures accurate and clear communication. Providers also benefit from learning how to work effectively with medical interpreters. ^{4, 5}

3. Cultural Sensitivity and Humility: Understanding cultural perspectives and showing respect to patients’ language and culture fosters better communication and patient satisfaction. Programs that promote language-congruent care with cultural sensitivity address barriers and improve health outcomes. ^{6, 7}

4. Clear, Plain Language Communication: Using simple, non-medical terms when speaking or writing instructions in Spanish helps avoid misunderstandings, especially for patients with limited health literacy. Being aware of false cognates and medical jargon is important to prevent errors. ^{8, 9}

5. Patient-Centered Approaches: Allowing more time for encounters, encouraging patient questions, and involving patients actively in their care through participatory communication approaches improves trust and understanding. ^{7, 10}

In summary, training healthcare providers in Spanish language and cultural skills, using professional interpreters, communicating clearly in plain language, and adopting patient-centered, culturally sensitive approaches are the best ways to improve communication with Spanish-speaking patients in healthcare settings. ^{3, 5, 1, 4, 6, 7, 8}

References

• Enhancing Clinical Spanish Proficiency Through Standardized Patient Interactions: A Case Study on Medical Students’ Performance

• ¿Doctor, habla español? Increasing the Supply and Quality of Language-Concordant Physicians for Spanish-Speaking Patients

• Addressing health disparities in hispanic communities through an innovative team-based medical spanish program at the medical school level – a single-institution study

• Communicating Effectively With Limited English Proficiency Patients: Incorporating Training on Working With Medical Interpreters in the Undergraduate Medical Curriculum

• Hablamos Juntos (Together We Speak): Interpreters, Provider Communication, and Satisfaction with Care

• Juntos: A Model for Language Congruent Care to Better Serve Spanish-Speaking Patients with COVID-19

• Barriers in Healthcare for Latinx Patients with Limited English Proficiency—a Narrative Review

• Interpreting Medicine: Lessons From a Spanish-Language Clinic

• Laxatives for a Cold?

• Spanish-Speaking Hispanic Patients’ Information-Sharing Preferences During Hospitalization: An Exploratory Pilot Study

• Juntos: A Model for Language Congruent Care to Better Serve Spanish-Speaking Patients with COVID-19

• Patient-physician language concordance: a strategy for meeting the needs of spanish-speaking patients in primary care.

• Overcoming language barriers in healthcare: A protocol for investigating safe and effective communication when patients or clinicians use a second language

• COVID-19 Education for Health Professionals Caring for Spanish-Speaking Patients

• Pharmacists’ communication with Spanish-speaking patients: a review of the literature to establish an agenda for future research.

• Are latinos less satisfied with communication by health care providers?