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Literature Review: Strategies for Addressing Language Barriers During Humanitarian Relief Operations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 October 2019

Carlo Rossi ,
Sylvain Grenier  and
Régis Vaillancourt
Carlo Rossi*
Affiliation:
Canadian Armed Forces
Sylvain Grenier
Affiliation:
University of Ottawa and Canadian Blood Service
Régis Vaillancourt
Affiliation:
Childrens’ Hospital of Eastern Ontario
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Lieutenant-Colonel Carlo Rossi, 713 Montreal Road, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0K2, (e-mail: carlo.rossi@forces.gc.ca).
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Abstract

Humanitarian relief operations (HUMRO) represent a nexus between military diplomacy and global health engagement, and may play an increasing role in military operations in the near future. Language barriers between providers and the individuals being assisted are a significant constraint on HUMRO. A literature review was conducted to identify recommendations to address patient-provider language discordance in the international HUMRO context. This was supplemented by a North Atlantic Treaty Organization and US Department of Defense doctrinal review to identify existing best practices for addressing language barriers. Four general themes were identified: (1) print-based aids, (2) information technology, (3) bilingual responders, and (4) the effective use of medical interpreters in the HUMRO setting. Each strategy is reviewed. Informed by expert opinion, we provide concrete leadership and training recommendations for how HUMRO providers might more effectively communicate with patients in a deployed language-discordant context.

Keywords

health literacydisaster medicinepublic health professionaleducation
Type
Concepts in Disaster Medicine
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 14 , Issue 3 , June 2020 , pp. 343 - 351
Copyright
Copyright © 2019 Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.

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