Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2007 Nov;22 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):300-5.
doi: 10.1007/s11606-007-0325-y.

Barriers beyond words: cancer, culture, and translation in a community of Russian speakers

Daniel Dohan  1 , Marya Levintova
Affiliations

Barriers beyond words: cancer, culture, and translation in a community of Russian speakers

Daniel Dohan et al. J Gen Intern Med. 2007 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Language and culture relate in complex ways. Addressing this complexity in the context of language translation is a challenge when caring for patients with limited English proficiency (LEP).

Objective: To examine processes of care related to language, culture and translation in an LEP population is the objective of this study.

Design: We used community based participatory research to examine the experiences of Russian-speaking cancer patients in San Francisco, California. A Russian Cancer Information Taskforce (RCIT), including community-based organizations, local government, and clinics, participated in all phases of the study.

Participants: A purposeful sample of 74 individuals were the participants of the study.

Approach: The RCIT shaped research themes and facilitated access to participants. Methods were focus groups, individual interviews, and participant observation. RCIT reviewed data and provided guidance in interpreting results.

Results: Four themes emerged. (1) Local Russian-language resources were seen as inadequate and relatively unavailable compared to other non-English languages; (2) a taboo about the word "cancer" led to language "games" surrounding disclosure; (3) this taboo, and other dynamics of care, reflected expectations that Russian speakers derived from experiences in their countries of origin; (4) using interpreters as cultural brokers or establishing support groups for Russian speakers could help address barriers.

Conclusions: The language barriers experienced by this LEP population reflect cultural and linguistic issues. Providers should consider partnering with trained interpreters to address the intertwining of language and culture.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. None
    2. Massey DS, International Union for the Scientific Study of Population. Committee on South-North Migration. Worlds in Motion: Understanding International Migration at the End of the Millennium. Oxford; New York: Clarendon Press; 2005.
    1. Shin HB, Bruno R. Language Use and English-speaking Ability: 2000. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of commerce census bureau; 2003 October, 2003. Report No.: C2KBR-29.
    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'DOI', 'value': '10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016007493.x', 'is_inner': False, 'url': 'https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016007493.x'}, {'type': 'PMC', 'value': 'PMC1495241', 'is_inner': False, 'url': 'https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1495241/'}, {'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '11520389', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11520389/'}]}
    2. Napoles-Springer A, Perez-Stable EJ. The role of culture and language in determining best practices. J Gen Intern Med 2001;16(7):493–5. - PMC - PubMed
    1. In the right words: addressing language and culture in providing health care. Issue brief (Grantmakers Health) 2003(18):1–44. - PubMed
    1. U.S. Department of health and human services office of minority health. National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health Care: Final Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of health and human services office of minority health; 2001.

Publication types