Improving comprehension and recall of health information through culturally appropriate communication skills training

People frequently struggle to understand and remember information given to them by health providers. In focus groups and interviews, patients have told us that medical terminology is used too often, they are given information that is not relevant to their needs, and they regularly leave a healthcare interaction feeling unsure about what they have to do. This communication problem is a safety and quality issue; evidence shows that when patients do not understand information clearly, they are more likely to make mistakes with their medication, to have adverse health outcomes, and be less satisfied with their care. Population groups likely to be at greater risk of poor health communication include older patients, those with lower heath literacy and people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Very few studies have explored barriers to good health communication from the perspective of patients themselves, and even fewer have been conducted among CALD populations or those with cardiovascular disease. This honours project will conduct interviews and/or focus groups with cardiac patients and carers from CALD communities about barriers to good health communication. Findings will inform co-design of a learning resource for patients that aims to address these barriers and upskill patients to communicate effectively with healthcare providers.