English as a Second Language
English as a Second Language
,ESL
Patient care
Poor English language skills may be barriers to the achievement of good health or the use of health services in nations where English is spoken as the primary language (e.g., Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and the U.S.). Illiteracy may result in the misuse of medications, nonadherence to medical regimens, or obstacles to achieving access to health care. Translators skilled in the patient’s native language should be employed to enhance understanding whenever the patient’s English language skills are in question.