A positive relationship between a patient and their doctor is essential for maintaining good health, as new research has demonstrated the significant impact that common language use in this dynamic can have on reducing cardiovascular disease risk, thereby contributing to longer life expectancy.
Researchers from the University of Ottawa and the University of Manitoba conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 124,583 respondents who spoke nearly 100 different languages. The findings indicate that Canadians with hypertension were 36 percent less likely to experience major adverse cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, heart failure, or strokes when treated by doctors who could communicate in their preferred language.
Furthermore, patients receiving care from linguistically proficient doctors experienced a lower mortality rate: they were 28 percent less likely to pass away compared to those cared for by doctors who did not speak their primary language. Michael Reaume, a resident in the Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Nephrology at the University of Ottawa and lead author of the study, stated that if there was an existing medication with such significant efficacy (decreasing major adverse cardiovascular events by 36 percent or all-cause mortality by 28 percent), it would be immediately administered to patients. This underscores the importance of recognizing language barriers in healthcare systems similarly.
To address this issue effectively, Dr. Reaume proposes that healthcare systems must collect preferred language information for all patients systematically. This crucial step enables the matching of patients with providers proficient in their languages and identifies those who may require professional interpretation services to ensure equitable access to quality care.
Optimizing language-concordant care has the potential to significantly reduce cardiovascular outcomes and improve overall population health. Additionally, advocating for increased medical education opportunities targeting minority language communities is essential. Such measures would help achieve a more linguistically diverse healthcare workforce that mirrors their patients’ linguistic diversity within each community.
In conclusion, systematically collecting information about the languages spoken by both patients and healthcare providers will allow healthcare systems to develop strategies for better matching of these parties based on language proficiency. This approach is vital for enhancing communication effectiveness, ensuring patient understanding, and ultimately improving health outcomes across various populations.
