Lost in translation: One in three CALD patients face safety risks in healthcare system

For millions of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) Australians, the cancer journey is paved not only with uncertainty, but with systemic blind spots that can turn treatment into trauma.

In a nation proudly built on migration – where over 7 million people were born overseas and nearly 6 million speak a language other than English at home – the healthcare system still isn’t speaking everyone’s language.

A new study led by Macquarie University and the University of Melbourne reveals that CALD cancer patients are facing a staggering one-in-three chance of experiencing a safety incident “which could have or did result in harm to the patient as a result of the healthcare they receive”. That’s not just a statistic, it’s a red flag.

The research team delved into the medical records of CALD cancer patients from four major cancer services across NSW and Victoria. Medication-related safety events were common, such as the wrong medication type or dose being given to a patient. Sometimes the patients themselves took the wrong type or dose of a medication or stopped medication all together.

The most common thread tying these incidents together? Miscommunication.

“This confusion might have stemmed from language barriers or health literacy issues,” the authors said.

With interpreters in short supply, they’re often “reserved” for specialist appointments only. Chemo sessions or post-op instructions were left to guesswork. For patients who don’t feel confident speaking up or questioning authority, the risks multiply.

International data from Norway to New Zealand also show that patients from CALD backgrounds face higher rates of harm in hospital settings. In one case, cancer patients had a 39% higher risk of adverse events than their non-cancer counterparts.

So what’s the fix?

The researchers are betting on co-designed solutions. One promising tool is a visual, multilingual communication tool created with CALD patients and clinicians. It uses images, plain language, and culturally relevant information to clarify medication changes and care instructions – bridging the language gap in ways traditional leaflets never could. It’s currently being tested in two cancer clinics.

But tools alone won’t solve a system-wide problem. When one-third of CALD cancer patients are being harmed by the very care meant to help them, we’re not just failing to translate – we’re failing to protect.

“To make cancer care safer for patients from CALD backgrounds, health systems and services will need to support and invest in strategies that are specifically targeted towards people from these backgrounds. This will ensure more equitable health solutions that improve the health of all Australians,” the authors stated.

In reimagining healthcare across the entire patient journey, Health Industry Hub^TM is the only one-stop-hub uniting the diversity of the Pharma, MedTech, Diagnostics & Biotech sectors to inspire meaningful change.

The Health Industry Hub^TM content is copyright protected. Access is available under individual user licenses. Please click here to subscribe and visit T&Cs here.