Lost in translation?
October 20, 2010
THE latest edition of the NPS’
Medicines Talk publication features
information for health professionals
on how to assist/treat people for
whom English is a second
language.
““A quarter of all Australians were
born overseas, many in countries
with different languages, cultures
and beliefs about health and
medicines,” said NPS ceo, Dr Lynn
Weekes.
“This can affect how they
understand health information and
medicines, for example thinking the
colour of a tablet symbolises its
strength, or not regarding herbal
remedies as medicines,” she added.
The new edition of Medicines Talk
also offers insight into assisting
patients who come from diverse
cultural backgrounds, including
factors that may impact on
medicine usage, such as fasting
where patients may stop taking
medications, or take them at
irregular times.
“If you are providing health care
to someone from a a culturally and
linguistically diverse background or
acting as their carer, [you must] be
aware of these factors that can
impact how people take their
medicine and interpret health
information,” Weekes said.
“Where possible ask them to
repeat back to you what they
understand, and point them in the
direction of translated information
sources,” she added.
The NPS is also reminding health
care professionals that it offers a
Translating and Interpreting Service
for help with verbal translation
assistance.
To access the full Medicines Talk
article see www.nps.org.au/
consumers/publications/
medicines_talk.
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