The impact of language barriers on patient safety in healthcare

ALOLIKA BOSE , CHANDNI KUMARI

Language Barriers; Patient Safety; Healthcare Communication; Medical Errors; Health Literacy; Migrant Population; Elderly Patients; Indian Healthcare System

The connection between effective communication and safe, quality healthcare is critical. At the hospital level, a breakdown in communication can lead to everything from misdiagnosis and error in medication to a lack of trust in the medical profession as a whole. In a country with a high level of linguistic diversity, however, language barriers have emerged as one of the most frequent - but least acknowledged - patient-safety incidents. This research assesses the impact of language barriers between patients and healthcare professionals on patient safety, with a specific focus on the elderly and migrant groups who are more susceptible to communication errors. Findings from the study indicate that these populations have specific needs when it comes to healthcare by struggling with symptom articulation, misinterpretation of medical assessments, and reduced availability of interpretation assistance. The result is delayed treatment, decreased compliance with at-home and in-office treatment and increased risk of medical mistake. Yet healthcare providers admit this is a problem in India and an organized approach to the issue - interpreter services, multilingual pamphlets for patients, and technologically based translation efforts - has yet to be established. The objective of this study is to assess patient and provider perceptions of communication challenges and examine feasible solutions to bridge such challenges. If Indian medical institutions are able to approach language barriers with a structure and effort that is culturally sensitive, they can improve patient safety and enable a more diverse and comprehensive approach to treatment for all.

Volume 14 Issue 3, March-2026

Pages : f695-f699