People from diverse cultural or language backgrounds are invited to join our study

Did you know that around 17% of people living in the South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS) area speak a language that is not English at home, and more than 35% were born overseas in a country where English is not the main language?

We are conducting a research study to better understand what happens when people from diverse cultural or language backgrounds become more unwell in hospital.

We want to learn about patients’ and families’ experiences of recognising when someone is becoming sicker, asking for help, raising concerns, and getting support from healthcare staff.

By listening to patients and carers, we hope to improve how hospitals respond when people are worried about a patient becoming more unwell, and help make sure all patients and families feel safe, heard, and supported when raising concerns.

We would love to hear from you!

We are looking to speak with people aged 18 years or older who, in the past two years:

• Were admitted to hospital and became more unwell during their stay, and are from a diverse cultural or language background;

OR

• Cared for someone from a diverse cultural or language background who was admitted to hospital and became more unwell during their stay.

Why we need you

Your insights can help us:

• Better understand the experiences of patients and carers from diverse cultural or language backgrounds when someone becomes more unwell in hospital
• Improve how hospitals respond when people are worried about a patient becoming sicker
• Help make sure all patients and families feel safe, heard, and supported when raising concerns

What is involved in the study?

If you decide to take part, Sarah, a researcher with a nursing background, will talk with you about your experience in hospital. This is called an interview.

Sarah will ask questions about what happened when you or your loved one became more unwell in hospital, including whether you had concerns, asked for help, or felt listened to and supported.

The interview will take about one hour.

Taking part is completely your choice. Choosing to take part, or not take part, will not affect your care in any way. By sharing your experiences, you can help improve hospital care and support for future patients and families.

Who can you bring to the interview?

You’re welcome to bring a family member, friend, or support person to help you feel more comfortable during the interview.
If you would like, Sarah can arrange someone to support you, who has been through a similar journey and from a multicultural background.

If you would prefer to speak in a language that is not English, an interpreter can also be arranged. The interpreter can help explain the questions and support you to share your experiences in the way that feels most comfortable to you.