OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study was to evaluate barriers in communication and disease understanding among office staff and interpreters when communicating with Spanish-speaking women with pelvic floor disorders. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study to evaluate barriers to communication with Spanish-speaking women with pelvic floor disorders among office staff and interpreters. Sixteen office staff and interpreters were interviewed; interview questions focused on experiences with Spanish-speaking patients with pelvic floor disorders in the clinic setting. Interview transcripts were analyzed qualitatively using grounded theory methodology. RESULTS: Analysis of the interview transcripts revealed several barriers in communication as identified by office staff and interpreters. Three major classes were predominant: patient, interpreter, and system-related barriers. Patient-related barriers included a lack of understanding of anatomy and medical terminology and inhibited discussions due to embarrassment. Provider-related barriers included poor interpreter knowledge of pelvic floor vocabulary and the use of office staff without interpreting credentials. System-related barriers included poor access to information. From these preliminary themes, an emergent concept was revealed: it is highly likely that Spanish-speaking women with pelvic floor disorders have poor understanding of their condition owing to multiple obstacles in communication. CONCLUSIONS: There are many levels of barriers to communications with Latin women treated for pelvic floor disorders, arising from the patient, interpreter, and the system itself. These barriers contribute to a low level of understanding of their diagnosis, treatment options, and administered therapies.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study was to evaluate barriers in communication and disease understanding among office staff and interpreters when communicating with Spanish-speaking women with pelvic floor disorders. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study to evaluate barriers to communication with Spanish-speaking women with pelvic floor disorders among office staff and interpreters. Sixteen office staff and interpreters were interviewed; interview questions focused on experiences with Spanish-speaking patients with pelvic floor disorders in the clinic setting. Interview transcripts were analyzed qualitatively using grounded theory methodology. RESULTS: Analysis of the interview transcripts revealed several barriers in communication as identified by office staff and interpreters. Three major classes were predominant: patient, interpreter, and system-related barriers. Patient-related barriers included a lack of understanding of anatomy and medical terminology and inhibited discussions due to embarrassment. Provider-related barriers included poor interpreter knowledge of pelvic floor vocabulary and the use of office staff without interpreting credentials. System-related barriers included poor access to information. From these preliminary themes, an emergent concept was revealed: it is highly likely that Spanish-speaking women with pelvic floor disorders have poor understanding of their condition owing to multiple obstacles in communication. CONCLUSIONS: There are many levels of barriers to communications with Latin women treated for pelvic floor disorders, arising from the patient, interpreter, and the system itself. These barriers contribute to a low level of understanding of their diagnosis, treatment options, and administered therapies.
Authors: Ava John-Baptiste; Gary Naglie; George Tomlinson; Shabbir M H Alibhai; Edward Etchells; Angela Cheung; Moira Kapral; Wayne L Gold; Howard Abrams; Maria Bacchus; Murray Krahn Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2004-03 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Cecilia K Wieslander; Alexandriah Alas; Gena C Dunivan; Claudia Sevilla; Sara Cichowski; Sally Maliski; Karyn Eilber; Rebecca G Rogers; Jennifer T Anger Journal: Int Urogynecol J Date: 2014-12-17 Impact factor: 2.894
Authors: Keila S Muñiz; Koraima Cedeño; Kathryn A Carson; Prerna R Pandya; Jacqueline Kikuchi; Danielle Patterson; Joan Blomquist; Stephanie Jacobs; Grace Chen Chi Chiung Journal: Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg Date: 2021-11-01 Impact factor: 2.091