Enhancing Patient-Centred Care and Cultural Safety in Medical Imaging: The Radiographers Experience of Communicating With Patients in a Multicultural and Multilingual Setting in Auckland.

Abstract

Introduction: Effective communication between patients and healthcare professionals has been shown to contribute to beneficial patient outcomes but requires recognition of linguistic and cultural differences. This is critical in a locality like Auckland which has been shown to be the most diverse region in New Zealand in terms of ethnicity, languages and culture. English is the most spoken language in New Zealand, followed by Te Reo Māori. The aim of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to explore and describe the experience of radiographers communicating with patients in a multi-cultural, multi-lingual healthcare setting in Auckland, New Zealand.

Methods: The research study population included radiographers registered with the Medical Radiation Technologists Board (MRTB) employed at the study location. The participant recruitment process included convenience, purposive, and snowball sampling. Data was collected through individual interviews that were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, with the sample size (n = 11) determined through the saturation of themes. Data was analysed by means of Tesch's framework for data analysis.

Results: Four themes emerged: (a) cross-cultural challenges in patient communication; (b) enhanced patient-centred care through culturally responsive communication; (c) tailored communication methods based on contextual patient factors; and (d) adaptive communication strategies.

Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of adaptive communication in overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers, emphasising the need for culturally safe and patient-centered care while maintaining professionals' responsibility to provide quality care to diverse patient populations. The findings have relevance beyond Māori context, highlighting the changing role of radiographers towards equitable and culturally sensitive healthcare.