The object of this investigation is multilingualism in the normal provision of health care to patients. The main research questions are: Which language resources do staff have at their disposal? What are the language needs of patients? What are the current practices and wishes for support in providing health care to non-German speakers?
The aim of the project is to create a systematic data basis in order to make scientific claims about resources, the need for language support, as well as its deployment and the barriers involved in day-to-day hospital care. The long-term goal is to improve medical care for non-German-speaking patients.
Concrete approach The project will analyze multilingualism within the context of in-patient care in the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf. Staff in the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy as well as the II. Medical Clinic and Polyclinic (Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation with the Section Pneumology) will be interviewed. One of the unique aspects of this project is that the study includes all occupational groups with immediate patient contact. Physicians and therapists, carers, provider assistants, and room cleaning staff will all participate by completing a questionnaire.
The study investigates the language resources of staff and the way in which they apply these resources in their day-to-day work in the hospital. It will explore current practices for communicating with non-German-speaking patients as well as the need for support in providing health care to these patients.
The study will be supplemented by a comprehensive literature review on the current status of research on the efficacy of professional language communication in out- and in-patient medical treatment, the analysis of existing professional language communication models in health care, and the analysis of current continuing and professional education opportunities for medical personnel on intercultural aspects of health care provision.