title: [How are Pediatric Hospitals in North-Rhine Westfalia Prepared to Overcome Language Barriers? A Pilot Study Exploring The Structural Quality of Inpatient Care].
abstract: BackgroundIn Germany, 35% of all children are considered to have a "migration background", and in the state of North-Rhine-Westfalia 43%. Frequently, one or both parents of a patient with a migration background have limited German language proficiency. Communication barriers due to a language difference can have a negative impact on quality of care, patient safety and costs of care. In this study, we investigate how children's hospitals are prepared to meet the challenges associated with language barriers.MethodsWe surveyed all children's hospitals in the state of North-Rhine-Westfalia, Germany. The questionnaire was based on the "Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care (CLAS)" and was adapted to circumstances in Germany.ResultsThirty-eight hospitals participated (51%) in this survey. Language barriers occurred frequently (75% of respondents mentioned language difficulties in more than 10% of the patient population). 82% of respondents rated their hospital to be "less than well prepared" to overcome language barriers. In the majority of hospitals (62%), the need for an interpreter was determined on a case-to-case basis and not according to any set protocol. In most cases bilingual staff was used for interpreting. However, only 38% of respondents found a list of available bilingual staff to be a sufficient resource. 42% of respondents did not know the monthly costs for professional interpreting services. In the remaining cases, costs were less than € 500/month.ConclusionTo overcome language barriers, hospitals rely on local resources. The majority of respondents did not find them to be appropriate and sufficient. The development of quality standards and the provision of financial resources are necessary to mobilize this potential for improvement. Therefore, other disciplines and sectors of healthcare need to be analyzed in order to provide the evidence for a constructive discussion with decision makers in policy and health insurance.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Neuropädiatrie und Muskelerkrankungen, Zentrum für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Freiburg.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Universität Witten/Herdecke, Helios Klinikum Wuppertal, Wuppertal.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zapf
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Universität Witten/Herdecke, Helios Klinikum Wuppertal, Wuppertal.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wirth
authors.affiliation: FB 06, Arbeitsbereich Interkulturelle Kommunikation, Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Germersheim.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Philip Klee-Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie, Helios Klinikum Wuppertal, Wuppertal.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiegand
authors.affiliation: Diakonie Wuppertal, Sprint Wuppertal, Migrationsdienste, Wuppertal.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Timmen
authors.affiliation: Vestische Kinder- und Jugendklinik Datteln, Universität Witten/Herdecke, Datteln.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Frauenklinik, Universitätsspital Basel, Basel, Schweiz.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.affiliation: Fakultät für Gesundheit, Institut für Gesundheitssystemforschung, Witten.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geraedts
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003144:Communication Barriers; D005858:Germany; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D007802:Language; D010865:Pilot Projects