Bridging Language Barriers in Hemophilia Care with a Digital Translation Tool

Introduction: Hemophilia care in Germany encounters significant challenges due to language barriers that impede effective communication between healthcare providers and patients. For instance, a study indicates that 6.3% of treated patients demonstrate insufficient German language skills in the context of outpatient diabetes care, exemplifying language barriers in healthcare [1]. The Care to Translate tool presents a viable solution to enhance dialogue, facilitate patient decision-making, and improve comprehension of disease status and treatment options beyond language barriers. This proposal aims to investigate the potential of this digital translation tool in addressing communication gaps within hemophilia treatment contexts.

Method: This abstract describes an addition to the current library by implementing a specialized hemophilia library [2]. This initiative will involve collaboration among various stakeholders: medical expertise will be provided by healthcare providers, patient needs and pathways expertise will be contributed by patient advocates, and linguistic and cultural competence will be supplied by Care to Translate experts. This collaborative approach will ensure that the content is relevant, accessible, and user-friendly. The Care to Translate app will be distributed to a limited number of hemophilia treatment centers across Germany during a test phase in 2025.

Results: The implementation of the Care to Translate tool is expected to enhance communication between healthcare providers and patients, leading to improved patient understanding of their condition and treatment options. This initiative aims to positively influence patient decision-making and overall satisfaction with care, while also providing improvements for caregivers by enhancing compliance and ensuring safe and equitable care, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes.

Conclusion: The Care to Translate tool represents a critical advancement in overcoming language barriers in hemophilia care. By fostering improved communication, this initiative seeks to enhance patient engagement and health outcomes, aligning with the objectives of GTH 2025 to promote patient-centered care in hematology.

 

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Conflict of Interest:

None.

• References

• 1 Mösko M.B.. 1 et al. Language barriers in German outpatient diabetes care: a cross-sectional study on multilingual treatment and the use of interpreters. J Public Health (Berl.) 2024;
• 2 Lie I.. 1 et al. Health care professionals' most relevant phrases used in a digital medical translation tool in 24/7 communication with minority-speaking heart surgery patients during hospitalization. Eur Heart J 2023; 44 (Suppl. 02)

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
13. Februar 2025