What does this research mean for the field?

Language barriers in Saudi prehospital settings, driven by family interference, patient distress, and language disparities, significantly impede paramedic-patient communication and risk compromising emergency care quality. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONFIRMATORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aims to explore the effects of language barriers on emergency care delivery in Saudi Arabia's prehospital settings.

March 25, 2026

Language Barrier and Its Implications for Delivering Emergency Medical Services in Saudi Prehospital Settings.

Puntos clave

This study aims to explore the effects of language barriers on emergency care delivery in Saudi Arabia's prehospital settings.
Conducted a quantitative cross-sectional study involving 278 EMS personnel in Jeddah.
Used convenience sampling from three major institutions: SRCA, MOH, and NGHA.
Assessed demographic information, language proficiency, and perceived language barriers via a questionnaire.
Utilized a Six-Point Likert scale for evaluating responses.
Performed statistical analyses to interpret quantitative and categorical data.
Identified factors contributing to language barriers including family member interference (32.37%) and patient distress (30.22%).
Reported significant communication challenges such as potential loss of critical information (mean=4.49).
Practical difficulties in engaging foreign-speaking families were noted (mean=3.73).
Paramedics with English training encountered heightened language issues (p-value=0.04).
Concerns regarding patient resistance due to language barriers were expressed by EMS personnel.

Resumen

Introduction: In the prehospital environment, language barriers can significantly impede communication between Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel and patients, which in turn affects the delivery and quality of emergency care. While this issue is widely acknowledged as a critical concern on a global scale, there remains a notable gap in research specifically addressing its implications within Saudi Arabia. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, involving a sample of 278 EMS personnel from three key institutions: the Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA), the Ministry of Health Hospitals (MOH), and the National Guard Hospital (NGHA). Participants were selected through convenience sampling. Data were gathered via a questionnaire that assessed demographic information, language proficiency, and perceived language barriers using a Six-Point Likert scale. Statistical analyses included means and standard deviations for quantitative variables and frequencies for categorical data. Results: The study identified several factors contributing to language barriers in paramedic-patient interactions, including family member interference (32.37%), patient stress and distress (30.22%), and language disparities between paramedics and patients (28.06%). Participants reported significant communication challenges, such as potential loss of critical information (mean=4.49) and difficulties in engaging with foreign-speaking families (mean=3.73). Notably, paramedics trained in English and working in Arabic-speaking environments faced heightened language barriers, particularly regarding patients’ comprehension of diagnoses and interventions (p-value=0.04). EMS personnel expressed concerns about patient resistance stemming from language barriers, which could adversely affect patient care outcomes. Conclusion: These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to mitigate language barriers in prehospital emergency care, ensuring equitable and high-quality services for all patients.

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Cite This Study

Almukhlifi et al. (Sun,) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69c37b81b34aaaeb1a67deef https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1017/s1049023x2610332x

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