Facilitating Access to Current, Evidence-Based Health Information for Non-English Speakers

• Published in: Healthcare (Basel) Vol. 11; no. 13; p. 1932
• Main Authors: Pelicioni, Paulo Henrique Silva, Michell, Antonio, Santos, Paulo Cezar Rocha Dos, Schulz, Jennifer Sarah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 04.07.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Access to information; Communication; Editorials; English as a second language; equity; Evidence-based medicine; False information; Health aspects; Health care; health information; Low income groups; Methods; Native languages; non-English communication; Researchers; Science; Social aspects; Task forces; Viewpoint; United Kingdom; Brazil; non-English communication; equity; health information
• DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11131932
• ISSN: 2227-9032

Scientific communication is crucial for the development of societies and the advancement of knowledge. However, many countries, and, consequently, their researchers, clinicians and community members, lack access to this information due to the information being disseminated in English rather than their native language. In this viewpoint, we aim to discuss the impacts of this problem and also outline recommendations for facilitating non-English speakers' access to current, evidence-based health information, thus extending the impact of science beyond academia. First, the authors discuss the barriers to accessing scientific health information for non-English speakers and highlight the negative impact of imposing English as a predominant language in academia. Next, the authors discuss the impacts of reduced access to clinical information for non-English speakers and how this reduced access impacts clinicians, clients, and health systems. Finally, the authors provide recommendations for enhancing access to scientific communication worldwide.