The significance of communication and care in one’s mother tongue: Patients’ views

Abstract

Language barriers in the healthcare sector, for example as a result of failure to use a patient’s mother tongue, can lead to misunderstandings and/or care errors, especially when circumstances require that nursing staff or patients speak a language other than their own mother tongue. The aim of this study was to explore the importance of patients receiving care in their mother tongue. A hermeneutic approach was used and the method was inspired by content analysis. The data material was collected through semi-structured interviews with nine adult patients. One main theme and four subthemes were seen. The main theme was that care in a patient’s mother tongue can enhance quality of care. To reduce suffering in care caused by language barriers, nurses’ language skills should be supported and encouraged. Further research should focus on nurses’ perspectives on the significance of minority-language patients using their mother tongue in a nursing context.