Challenges faced by bilingual stroke survivors in the healthcare system: Unique considerations

Resource type
Journal Article
Authors/contributors
Title
Challenges faced by bilingual stroke survivors in the healthcare system: Unique considerations
Abstract
The experiences of multilingual patients communicating with unilingual healthcare providers have been largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of bilingual stroke patients within the Canadian healthcare context. A secondary analysis was completed with data from a multiple case study of the experiences of seven, low-income bilingual Francophone stroke survivors living in a predominately English area. Data included semi-structured interviews, chart reviews and language proficiency assessments. Results demonstrated that bilingual survivors experience unique challenges, including limited French health vocabulary, use of non-standard French, and generally low health literacy levels in both languages. Participants with aphasia often used English and French interchangeably, leading to the potential for miscommunication when providers were not bilingual. The study highlights the importance of having bilingual healthcare providers when bilingual stroke survivors have communication or cognitive limitations. Keywords: Stroke, language, bilingualism, healthcare, literacy
Publication
Linguistic Minorities and Society
Date
2020
Issue
13
Pages
49–64
Language
en
Citation
Sauvé-Schenk, K., Dubouloz-Wilner, C.-J., Egan, M., & Kristjansson, E. (2020). Challenges faced by bilingual stroke survivors in the healthcare system: Unique considerations. Linguistic Minorities and Society, 13, 49–64. https://doi.org/10.7202/1075422ar
Minority language group(s)
Study population
Country
Canadian provinces or territories
Research type
  • Qualitative