English Language Abilities and Unmet Needs in Community Mental Health Services: a Cross-Sectional Study

Excerpt

Language has been described as medicine’s most essential technology and its principle instrument.1 Even so, persons with limited English proficiency (LEP) often do not have access to providers who speak their language.2 In many jurisdictions in North America, many health services are provided in English without linguistic assistance.3‐5 There is evidence that compared to clients with greater English proficiency, persons with LEP have less understanding of the care they receive,3, 6 ,7 are less likely to follow recommendations for treatment and follow-up visits,8, 9 are more likely to have delayed diagnoses,10 and are less satisfied with care.5, 11‐13 They are also more likely to rely on ad hoc interpreters (e.g., family, friends, nonclinical employees, or nonfluent health care professionals),3, 14 which may transform the communication, leading to omission of questions, failure to mention medication side effects, and ignoring embarrassing issues.15, 16 Given these challenges, it is not surprising that LEP individuals also have been shown to have more emergency department visits, more hospital admissions, and longer hospital stays for many medical and surgical conditions.17, 18 …