Linguistic barriers in communication between oncologists and cancer patients with migration background in Germany: an explorative analysis based on the perspective of the oncologists from the mixed-methods study POM

Objective: We aimed at investigating the predictors of linguistic barriers among office-based haemato-oncologists during consultation with migrant cancer patients in Germany.

Methods: Physicians from haemato-oncological practices were invited to participate in a cross-sectional study. Linguistic barriers and family factors were ascertained using a newly developed online-questionnaire with the scales "Overall linguistic barriers", "Self-perceived linguistic barriers" and "Family factors - antagonistic behaviour". Predictors of linguistic barriers were identified using multivariate ANOVA via step-wise backwards selection.

Results: Fifty-five physicians participated in the study. Treating patients from Sub-Saharan Africa predicted higher overall and self-perceived linguistic barriers (F [2,46] = 4.51, p = .04; and F [3,45] = 5.44, p = .02, respectively). Working in an single practice (F [3,45] = 4.19; p = .05) predicted higher self-perceived linguistic barriers. Employees who could act as translators predicted lower barriers in form of antagonistic behaviour from relatives (F [2,48] = 6.12; p = .02).

Conclusions: The results indicate that linguistic barriers are affected by the level of linguistic concordance between patients and medical personnel. A temporary solution might be the presence of linguistically competent personnel in the practice. However, the results of this study highlight the need for greater availability of linguistic competent translators for consultations in haemato-oncological practices.