Exploring the impact of language concordance on cancer communication Journal Article
| Authors: | Bregio, C.; Finik, J.; Baird, M.; Ortega, P.; Roter, D.; Karliner, L.; Diamond, L. C. |
| Article Title: | Exploring the impact of language concordance on cancer communication |
| Abstract: | PURPOSE: Patients with cancer who have limited English proficiency are more likely to experience inequities in cancer knowledge, timely care, and access to clinical trials. Matching patients with language-concordant clinicians and working with professional interpreters can effectively reduce language-related disparities, but little data are available regarding the impact of language-concordant interactions in oncology care. This study aimed to assess the use of the Roter Interaction Analysis System (RIAS) in language-concordant and -discordant interactions for patients with non-English language preference presenting for an initial oncology visit at four New York City hospitals. METHODS: We used the RIAS, a validated tool for qualitative coding and quantitative analysis, to evaluate interactions between 34 patients and 16 clinicians. The pairings were stratified into dyads: English language-concordant (n = 12); professionally interpreted (n = 11); partially language-concordant (n = 4, partially bilingual clinicians who communicated in Spanish and/or used ad hoc interpreters); and Spanish language-concordant (n = 7). A trained Spanish-speaking coder analyzed the recordings using established RIAS codes. RESULTS: Spanish language-concordant clinicians had almost two-fold greater number of statements about biomedical information than English language-concordant clinicians. Spanish language-concordant patients had a higher tendency to engage in positive talk such as expressing agreement. The number of partnership/facilitation-related statements was equivalent for English and Spanish language-concordant groups but lower in professionally interpreted and partially language-concordant dyads. CONCLUSION: Language concordance may facilitate more effective biomedical counseling and therapeutic relationships between oncology clinicians and patients. Future research should further explore the impact of language concordance on cancer-specific health outcomes. |
| Keywords: | neoplasm; neoplasms; communication; physician-patient relations; interpersonal communication; language; complication; communication barriers; humans; human; communication barrier; doctor patient relationship |
| Journal Title: | JCO Oncology Practice |
| Volume: | 18 |
| Issue: | 11 |
| ISSN: | 2688-1527 |
| Publisher: | American Society of Clinical Oncology |
| Date Published: | 2022-11-01 |
| Start Page: | e1885 |
| End Page: | e1898 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1200/op.22.00040 |
| PUBMED: | 36112970 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| PMCID: | PMC9653203 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Article -- Export Date: 1 December 2022 -- Source: Scopus |
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