LANGUAGE BARRIERS IN HEALTHCARE AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES
Keywords:
language barriers; healthcare communication; patient safety; medical interpreter; health disparities; limited English proficiency.Abstract
Language barriers between patients and healthcare providers represent a critical challenge in modern clinical settings. These barriers adversely affect quality of care, patient safety, and health outcomes across diverse healthcare environments. This narrative review synthesizes peer-reviewed evidence published between 2000 and 2025, examining the scope, mechanisms, and clinical consequences of language barriers in healthcare. Evidence consistently demonstrates that language-discordant patient-provider interactions increase the risk of diagnostic errors, adverse events, medication non-adherence, and reduced patient satisfaction. Professional interpreter services are shown to significantly improve clinical outcomes, whereas reliance on untrained ad-hoc interpreters poses substantial safety risks. The paper concludes with evidence-based recommendations for healthcare institutions and policymakers to adopt comprehensive language access strategies.
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