Language barriers in multilingual Saudi hospitals: causes, consequences, and solutions

ABSTRACT

Although a multilingual and multicultural work environment increases the diversity and exchange of experiences, it can also create and increase language barriers. This qualitative study explored language barriers in a multilingual Saudi hospital through 37 interviews of physicians, nurses, other healthcare workers, and patients. The resulting analysis revealed several causes of, consequences of, and solutions to overcome language barriers in the hospital workplace. The results are presented in three main sections. The first section presents the causes of language barriers due to multilingualism and discusses barriers related to patients, healthcare workers, and hospital policy in turn. The second section presents the negative consequences of language barriers for patients and healthcare workers. The last section discusses solutions and strategies the interviewees have used in the hospital to overcome language barriers, and solutions related to language, accent and dialect, or cultural barriers in turn.

KEYWORDS:

• Language barriers
• hospital communication
• diverse workplace
• language in the workplace
• multilingual communication

Acknowledgements

The author extends his appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University for funding this work through General Research Project under grant number (G.R.P- 104 -39).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author extends his appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University for funding this work through General Research Project [grant number G.R.P- 104 -39].