Improving equity in inpatient paediatric services: a single-centre quality improvement project providing care in patients' preferred language.
Aamena BharmalNicola EarlBob KlaberPublished in: BMJ paediatrics open (2023)
Language barriers, if not adequately addressed, can prevent effective communication, impact patient safety and experience. Our research on language preference within the paediatric inpatient and outpatient services in west London revealed that 20% and 56%, respectively, would prefer to communicate in an alternative language than English. When we conducted emotional mapping analysis patients reported feeling 'invisible' and 'not involved' due to the lack of communication in their preferred language. Here, we describe our analysis and pilot intervention of using translated asthma care plans that aims to improve patient care, experience and outcomes by minimising the impact of language barriers.
Keyphrases
- quality improvement
- patient safety
- autism spectrum disorder
- healthcare
- end stage renal disease
- palliative care
- mental health
- newly diagnosed
- emergency department
- intensive care unit
- primary care
- randomized controlled trial
- prognostic factors
- type diabetes
- clinical trial
- peritoneal dialysis
- adipose tissue
- high resolution
- metabolic syndrome
- single cell
- patient reported outcomes
- health insurance
- mass spectrometry
- air pollution
- acute care