Plain language in the healthcare of Japan:a systematic review of"plain Japanese"
10.1016/j.glohj.2024.08.007
- Author:
Kido HATSUNE
1
;
Saeki SOICHIRO
;
Hiraiwa MAYU
;
Yasunaga MASASHI
;
Tomizawa RIE
;
Honda CHIKA
;
Fukuoka TOSHIO
;
Minamitani KAORI
Author Information
1. Department of Medical Education,Kurashiki Central Hospital,Kurashiki,Okayama 710-8602,Japan
- Keywords:
Plain Japanese;
Easy Japanese;
Plain language;
Foreign residents;
Healthcare access;
Language barriers;
Emigrants and immigrants
- From:
Global Health Journal
2024;8(3):113-118
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:Despite the decrease in the number of foreign visitors and residents in Japan due to the coronavirus dis-ease 2019,a resurgence is remarkable from 2022.However,Japan's medical support system for foreign patients,especially residents,is inadequate,with language barriers potentially causing health disparities.Comprehen-sive interpretation and translation services are challenging,but"plain Japanese"may be a viable alternative for foreign patients with basic Japanese language skills.This study explores the application and obstacles of plain Japanese in the medical sector. Methods:A literature review was performed across these databases:Web of Science,PubMed,Google Scholar,Scopus,CINAHL Plus,Springer Link and Ichushi-Web(Japanese medical literature).The search covered themes related to healthcare,care for foreign patients,and scholarly articles,and was conducted in July 2023. Results:The study incorporated five papers.Each paper emphasized the language barriers foreign residents in Japan face when accessing healthcare,highlighting the critical role and necessity of plain Japanese in medical environments.Most of the reports focused on the challenges of delivering medical care to foreign patients and the training of healthcare professionals in using plain Japanese for communication. Conclusion:The knowledge and application of plain Japanese among healthcare professionals are inadequate,and literature also remains scarce.With the increasing number of foreign residents in Japan,the establishment of a healthcare system that effectively uses plain Japanese is essential.However,plain Japanese may not be the optimal linguistic assistance in certain situations,thus it is imperative to encourage more research and reports on healthcare services using plain Japanese.
