Communication Management Processes of Dentists Providing Healthcare for Migrants with Limited Japanese Proficiency

Abstract

Low health literacy results in health inequity are linked with poor adherence to medical care. In the globalized Japanese context, the number of migrants with Japanese as a second language is increasing year after year. Since limited Japanese proficiency may pose a greater health risk, dentists are expected to manage cross-cultural communication and provide dental care to foreign patients. This study explored dentists’ experiences of treating patients with limited Japanese proficiencies. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 community dentists and the qualitative data were analyzed through a thematic analysis approach. Their major challenges were classified into three themes—linguistic aspect (e.g., complicated explanation regarding root canal treatment), sociolinguistic aspect (e.g., communication with foreign residents with limited dental knowledge), and sociocultural aspect (e.g., cultural differences in their dental aesthetics and insurance treatment system). Several management strategies were employed, including linguistic accommodation, avoidance of complexities, use of various communication tools, and getting help from others. However, they were unsatisfied with their practice because they could not understand the patients’ psychosocial aspects due to incomplete communication. These findings provided insights into dentists’ practice in the globalized context.