News
Catalan or Spanish in the doctor’s office? Language can also affect medical care
Explaining where it hurts, describing a symptom, or understanding a diagnosis can be more difficult when it’s done in a second language. In Catalonia, only 48% of doctors regularly use Catalan with their patients. Several initiatives aim to change this.
Finding the right words matters in a medical consultation. 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 the diagnosis and the quality of care. The issue, therefore, goes beyond a simple language preference: it also affects how well the patient and professional can understand each other.
When explaining “what hurts” isn’t so simple
Someone might manage perfectly well in two languages in daily life and still find it difficult to describe certain symptoms, sensations, or concerns in a second language.
In stressful or painful situations, those nuances can be especially important. Research in places like Canada, the United Kingdom, Finland, and the País Vasco has linked a mismatch between the patient’s and professional’s language to lower adherence to treatments, more medical errors, and longer hospital stays.
Fewer than half of doctors regularly use Catalan
The data show that this is a significant issue 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.
Learning Catalan, but also the language of the 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 isn’t always 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 the 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 designed to incorporate Catalan into their professional routine and make linguistic integration easier.
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 easier.