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Catalan or Spanish in the consultation? Language can also influence medical care
Explaining where it hurts, describing a symptom, or understanding a diagnosis can be more difficult when done in a second language. In Catalonia, only 48% of doctors routinely use Catalan with their patients. Several initiatives want to change this situation.
In a medical consultation, finding the right words matters. And when pain, nerves or worry are involved, it matters even more.
A study by the Universitat Pompeu Fabra points out that not being able to use the patient’s usual language can affect the accuracy of diagnosis and the quality of care. So the issue goes beyond a simple language preference: it also affects how well the patient and professional are able to understand each other.
When explaining “what hurts” isn’t so straightforward
Someone might get by perfectly well in two languages in everyday life, yet still find it difficult to describe certain symptoms, sensations or concerns in a second language.
In situations of stress or pain, those nuances can be especially important. Research carried out in places like Canada, the United Kingdom, Finland and the País Vasco has linked a mismatch between the patient’s language and the professional’s with lower adherence to treatments, more medical errors and longer hospital stays.
Less than half of doctors regularly use Catalan
The data show that this situation is significant in Catalonia. According to the Consell de Col·legis de Metges de Catalunya, 48% of doctors regularly use Catalan with their patients.
Its use is even lower among younger professionals and those born outside Catalonia. Among the latter, however, there is interest in improving their knowledge of the language and training is seen as useful, although incompatible schedules are one of the obstacles.
Switching languages also happens among professionals. When one of the people involved prefers Spanish, it’s common for conversations to automatically switch to that language, reducing the everyday presence of Catalan in healthcare centres.
Photo by Media_Photos / Shutterstock / FOTODOM
Learning Catalan, but also the vocabulary of a consultation
The Consell de Col·legis de Metges de Catalunya and the Col·legi Oficial d’Infermeres i Infermers de Barcelona argue that language skills are part of quality healthcare.
Their proposals include offering free training adapted to professionals’ schedules, with special attention to medical vocabulary. Because knowing a language well enough for everyday conversation and using it to talk about symptoms, tests or treatments are not always exactly the same thing.
Hospital Clínic is already trying new approaches
Some initiatives have moved from theory to practice. Salut pel Català, an association created in 2023 to promote the use of this language in healthcare and biomedical research, is taking part in the Pla d’Acollida del Hospital Clínic.
The programme offers residents from different backgrounds cultural activities and workshops aimed at incorporating Catalan into their professional routine and making it easier to integrate linguistically.
Metges de Catalunya has also set up conversation groups and other strategies to increase the use of the language in healthcare centres.
The shared goal is that speaking Catalan in a consultation shouldn’t depend solely on the chance of finding a professional who is fluent. For certain patients, especially older people or those going through difficult situations, being able to explain exactly what they feel in their usual language can help make a difficult medical conversation at least a little bit easier.