Perceptions of the need for minority languages by nurses in Southern Taiwan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/cam.33283Keywords:
ethnic minority language, language barrier, medical Taiwanese, need assessment, nursingAbstract
Background: While language barriers between healthcare providers and minority-language-speaking patients often lead to miscommunication and jeopardize patient safety, language audits of the former have received little attention.Goal: Based on the context in Southern Taiwan, where the elderly population mainly speaks the local dialect Taiwanese, this study examines nurses' perceptions of their proficiency in and need for medical Taiwanese (‘MED-TW'), and attitudes toward it.
Method: A questionnaire survey was conducted among 859 nurses from three levels of healthcare units: primary care stations (H1), a regional hospital (H2) and a medical center (H3).
Results: Nurses from the rural-based H1 unit displayed significantly stronger needs for Taiwanese (TW) than those from urban-based H2 and H3. Specifically, H1 nurses reported encounters with the largest proportion of TW-speaking clients (p<0.001) and the highest frequency of using TW with clients (p<0.001). However, H1 nurses' self-evaluation of their TW proficiency revealed a lower score than those of the H2 and H3 nurses, especially with regard to medical TW proficiency (p<0.05). Finally, while nurses with a high command of TW felt it helped their work, those with a low level did not feel this impacted their performance.
Conclusion: Nurses working in locations where the use of the minority language is prevalent would benefit more from learning this language.
References
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Pochhacker, F. (2000) Language barriers in Vienna hospitals. Ethnicity and Health 5 (2): 113-119.
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Tan, L. K. (2011) Taiwanese college students’ language consciousness. Journal of Taiwanese Vernacular 3 (2): 4-25.
Tsai, M. H. (2015) A pragmatic approach to dialect maintenance: A survey of the course development of Taiwanese for medical purposes and its implications for the curriculum planning of professional language courses in Taiwan. Journal of Taiwanese Vernacular 7 (2): 4-29. 10.6621/JTV.2015.0702.02
Tsao, F. F. (1997) Ethnic Language Policies: A Comparison across the Taiwan Strait. Taipei: Crane.
Tzeng, H. M. (2005) Crisis management and medical disputes related to nursing practice. Journal of Nursing 52 (2): 48-55.
Van Rosse, F., de Bruijne, M., Suurmond, J., Essink-Bot, M.-L. and Wagner, C. (2016) Language barriers and patient safety risks in hospital care: A mixed methods study. International Journal of Nursing Studies 54: 45-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2015.03.012
Welsh Language Policy Unit (2015) More than just Words: Delivering the ‘Active Offer’ Information Pack - Health. Available online: http://gov.wales/docs/dhss/publications/150928activeofferhealthen.pdf
Yang, M.-N. and Su, S.-M. (2003) A study of Taiwanese nursing students’ and in-service nurses’ English needs. Journal of Chang Gung Institute of Technology 2: 267-284.
Yeh, H.-N., Hui-chen C. and Yuh-show, C. (2004) Language use in Taiwan: Language proficiency and domain analysis. Journal of Taiwan Normal University: Humanities & Social Sciences 49 (1): 75-108.
Antia, B. E. and Bertin, F. D. (2004) Nigeria. Multilingualism and healthcare in Nigeria: A management perspective. Communication & Medicine 1 (2): 107-117. https://doi.org/10.1515/come.2004.1.2.107
Brua, C. (2008) Role-blurring and ethical grey zones associated with lay interpreters: Three case studies. Communication & Medicine 5 (1): 73-79. https://doi.org/10.1558/cam.v5i1.73
Chan, H. C. (1994) Language Shift in Taiwan: Social and Political Determinants. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Georgetown University, Washington, DC.
Chan, L. K. (2012) Language barriers in medical education in Hong Kong. In N. G. Patil and L. K. Chan (eds) Making Sense in Communication, 25-30. Hong Kong: Institute of Medical and Health Sciences Education.
Chern, C. L. (2010) General English programs at universities in Taiwan: Curriculum design and implementations. Chang Gung Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 3 (2): 253-274.
Chia, H. U., Johnson, R., Chia, H. L. and Olive, F. (1999) English for college students in Taiwan: A study of perceptions of English needs in a medical context. English for Specific Purposes 18 (2): 107-119. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0889-4906(97)00052-5
Clark, T., Sleath, B. and Rubin, R. H. (2004) Influence of ethnicity and language concordance on physician-patient agreement about recommended changes in patient health behavior. Patient Education and Counseling 53 (1): 87-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0738-3991(03)00109-5
Ferguson, W. J. and Candib, L. M. (2002) Culture, language, and the doctor-patient relationship. Family Medicine 34 (5): 353-361.
Fortier, J. P., Strobel, C. and Aguilera, E. (1998) Language barriers to health care: Federal and state initiatives, 1990-1995. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved 9 (suppl.): S81-S100.
https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2010.0692
Hays, R. B., Pearse, P, Cooper, C. W. and Sanderson, L. (1996) Language background and communication skills of medical students. Ethnicity and Health 1 (4): 383-388.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13557858.1996.9961807
Ho, M. J., Gosselin, K., Chandratilake, M., Monrouxe, L. V. and Rees, C. E. (2016) Taiwanese medical students’ narratives of intercultural professionalism dilemmas: Exploring tensions between Western medicine and Taiwanese culture. Advances in Health Sciences Education 22 (2): 429-445.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-016-9738-x
Huang, S. F. (1993) Language, Society and Ethnic Identity: A Sociolinguistic Study on Taiwan. Taipei: Crane.
Hughes, L., Brookes, C., Cocker, C., John, D. N., Jones, A. and Longley, M. (2008) The Role of the Welsh Language in Community Pharmacy Service Provision in Wales. London: Pharmacy Practice Research Trust.
Hull, M. (2016) Medical language proficiency: A discussion of interprofessional language competencies and potential for patient risk. International Journal of Nursing Studies 54: 158-172.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2015.02.015
Karliner, L. S., Auerbach, A., Napoles, A. Schillinger, D., Nickleach, D. and Perez-Stable, E. J. (2012) Language barriers and understanding of hospital discharge instructions. Medical Care 50 (4): 283-289. https://doi.org/10.1097/MLR.0b013e318249c949
Kosonen, K. (2017) Non-dominant - instead of minority - languages in education as a focus of research: Why? Paper presented at the 16th International Conference on Minority Languages, Jyväskylä and Närpes, Finland, 28-30 August.
Lee, I. and Wang, H. H. (2002) Perceived occupational stress and related factors in public health nurses. Journal of Nursing Research 10 (4): 253-260. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.JNR.0000347606.91295.76
Lin, P. L., Ho, M. Y., Tzeng, L. C. and Lu, K. Y. (2005) Work, stress professional commitment among nurses in community health centers. Journal of Evidence-Based Nursing 1 (2): 132-139.
Madoc-Jones, I. (2004) Linguistic sensitivity, indigenous peoples and the mental health system in Wales. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing 13 (4): 216-224.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-0979.2004.00337.x
Maneze, D., Everett, B., Kirby, S., DiGiacomo, M., Davidson P. M. and Salamonson, Y. (2016) ‘I have only little English’: Language anxiety of Filipino migrants with chronic disease. Ethnicity and Health 21 (6): 596-608. https://doi.org/10.1080/13557858.2016.1143091
Manson, A. (1988) Language concordance as a determinant of patient compliance and emergency room use in patients with asthma. Medical Care 26 (12): 1119-1128. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005650-198812000-00003
Miguel, C. S., Rogan, F., Kilstoff, K. and Brown, D. (2006) Clinically speaking: A communication skills program for students from non-English speaking backgrounds. Nurse Education in Practice 6 (5): 268-274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2006.02.004
Mutchler, J. E., Bacigalupe, G., Coppin, A. and Gottlieb, A. (2007) Language barriers surrounding medication use among older Latinos. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology 22 (1): 101-114.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10823-006-9021-3
Pochhacker, F. (2000) Language barriers in Vienna hospitals. Ethnicity and Health 5 (2): 113-119.
https://doi.org/10.1080/713667449
Roberts, G. W., Irvine, F. E., Jones, P. R., Spencer, L. H., Baker, C. R. and Williams, C. (2007) Language awareness in the bilingual healthcare setting: A national survey. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 44 (7): 1177-1186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2006.03.019
Tan, L. K. (2011) Taiwanese college students’ language consciousness. Journal of Taiwanese Vernacular 3 (2): 4-25.
Tsai, M. H. (2015) A pragmatic approach to dialect maintenance: A survey of the course development of Taiwanese for medical purposes and its implications for the curriculum planning of professional language courses in Taiwan. Journal of Taiwanese Vernacular 7 (2): 4-29. 10.6621/JTV.2015.0702.02
Tsao, F. F. (1997) Ethnic Language Policies: A Comparison across the Taiwan Strait. Taipei: Crane.
Tzeng, H. M. (2005) Crisis management and medical disputes related to nursing practice. Journal of Nursing 52 (2): 48-55.
Van Rosse, F., de Bruijne, M., Suurmond, J., Essink-Bot, M.-L. and Wagner, C. (2016) Language barriers and patient safety risks in hospital care: A mixed methods study. International Journal of Nursing Studies 54: 45-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2015.03.012
Welsh Language Policy Unit (2015) More than just Words: Delivering the ‘Active Offer’ Information Pack - Health. Available online: http://gov.wales/docs/dhss/publications/150928activeofferhealthen.pdf
Yang, M.-N. and Su, S.-M. (2003) A study of Taiwanese nursing students’ and in-service nurses’ English needs. Journal of Chang Gung Institute of Technology 2: 267-284.
Yeh, H.-N., Hui-chen C. and Yuh-show, C. (2004) Language use in Taiwan: Language proficiency and domain analysis. Journal of Taiwan Normal University: Humanities & Social Sciences 49 (1): 75-108.
Published
2019-07-03
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Section
Articles
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copyright Equinox Publishing Ltd.
How to Cite
Tsai, M.-H., Lee, H.-F., Jeng, S.-L., Lin, S.-C., Hsieh, L.-W., Chuang, J.-P., & Jacobs, E. A. (2019). Perceptions of the need for minority languages by nurses in Southern Taiwan. Communication and Medicine, 15(1), 90-104. https://doi.org/10.1558/cam.33283
