Lowering the Language Barrier in an Acute Psychiatric Setting *

Objectives: The aim of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness of a training and policy strategy to improve communication opportunities in an acute inpatient unit for patients of non-English-speaking background (NESB) with low English proficiency.

Method: A pre- and post-intervention design involved: (i) a survey of the multilingual skills of 80 clinical staff: (ii) recording of patients' ethnic background and proficiency; (iii) pre- and post-intervention data collection of the main outcome measure (communications with patients in a language other than English [LOTE]); and (iv) staff training, and active encouragement, in interpreter use. English proficiency was assessed using the population census proficiency question.

Results: Of 257 admissions, 33% were of NESB and 19% preferred to speak a LOTE. The staff survey yielded a 49% return rate and showed that, of 11 LOTEs spoken by patients, seven were also spoken by 17 of the staff. Twenty-nine percent of staff were not clinically proficient in these languages. Compared to the NESB population, a higher proportion of NESB patients rated low on proficiency. Following the intervention, interpreter bookings and booking duration increased significantly.

Conclusions: A standard training package and a policy promoting interpreter use improved communication opportunities in an acute setting where language needs are typically poorly met. Failure to ensure effective communicate raises risks of mis-diagnosis and inappropriate treatment. By measuring patients' proficiency directly, the present study identified a higher level of need for interpreter services than estimated by past reports.