Quality and safety issue: language barriers in healthcare, a qualitative study of non-Arab healthcare practitioners caring for Arabic patients in the UAE

OBJECTIVES: To identify language-related communication barriers that expatriate (non-Arabic) healthcare practitioners in the UAE encounter in their daily practice.

DESIGN: Qualitative study utilising semi-structured in-depth interviews. The interviews were conducted in English language.

SETTING: Different healthcare facilities across the UAE. These facilities were accessed for data collection over a period of 3 months from January 2023 to March 2023.

PARTICIPANTS: 14 purposively selected healthcare practitioners.

INTERVENTION: No specific intervention was implemented; this study primarily aimed at gaining insights through interviews.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: To understand the implications of language barriers on service quality, patient safety, and healthcare providers' well-being.

RESULTS: Three main themes emerged from our analysis of participants' narratives: Feeling left alone, Trying to come closer to their patients and Feeling guilty, scared and dissatisfied.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on the perspectives and experiences of participating healthcare professionals, language barriers have notably influenced the delivery of healthcare services, patient safety and the well-being of both patients and practitioners in the UAE. There is a pressing need, as highlighted by these professionals, for the inclusion of professional interpreters and the provision of training to healthcare providers to enhance effective collaboration with these interpreters.