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Rosenberg, E. (2010). Prevalence of patient communication difficulties in urban family practice. McGill Family Medicine Studies Online, 05: e01. http://mcgill-fammedstudies-recherchemedfam.pbwiki.com/MFMSO200904e01#. Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/5qOQDjdYs
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Abstract
Objective
To estimate the prevalence of communication barriers (as defined by limited proficiency in the official languages (LLP) and hearing loss) in primary care in urban practice in Montreal, Canada.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 579 patients (73.2% of those approached) at 6 family practice clinics and 34 physicians (45% of those approached) at one of the 6 clinics.
Results
Based on patient report, 16.9% were unable to speak English or French well enough to talk with their doctor, 14.1% had a hearing loss and 10.9% were accompanied by someone to assist in communication. Based on physician report in one clinic, 4.5% had LLP and 1.8% were accompanied by someone to interpret. The respective rates for patient report in this clinic were 10.7% and 7.5%.
Conclusion
Family physicians in Canadian cities are faced with particular challenges in communicating with approximately 14% of their patients because of impaired hearing and 17% of their patients because of their limited proficiency in either of Canada’s official languages. Moreover, physicians may be overestimating their patients’ language proficiency.
Practice Implications
Identification of these communication difficulties is a necessary first step in the process of providing effective care to these vulnerable patients
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