Bilingual care for Diabetes in Wales

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Use of language and bilingual care for Diabetes, perspectives of patients and staff in Wales

  • IRAS ID

    360779

  • Contact name

    Alwena H Morgan

  • Contact email

    a.h.morgan@swansea.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Swansea University

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 2 months, 30 days

  • Research summary

    SUMMARY
    The research question is targeting the use of language Welsh and English words used in diabetes care that can affect the physical and emotional health of people living with diabetes.
    It is relevance because at it's best, good use of the patient first language can lower anxiety, build confidence, educate and help to improve self-care, conversely, poor communication can be stigmatising, hurtful and undermining of self-care and have a detrimental effect on clinical outcomes.
    Furthermore, it is found that when a patient is not able to use their first language, they may be unable to express their needs or may not fully understand the information or advice being provided to them, therefore the ability of a patient to discuss their diabetes in their first language is important.
    The main aim of this study is to investigate the terminology and language that is found to be stigmatising to people living with diabetes in Wales. Invitation to diabetic patients from General Practice Surgery (GP) and Outpatient Department (OPD) to complete a short questionnaire and choose to partake in an interview on this study.
    The project will also gain an insight into why the use of Welsh in healthcare may be important to people with Diabetes by investigating the perspectives of staff in diabetes care.
    This will be a cross-sectional, exploratory mixed-methods study using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with thematic analysis.
    Ultimately, the work aims to support the development of a Welsh version of the healthcare document "Language Matters Diabetes" by NHS Wales.

  • REC name

    London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    25/PR/1402

  • Date of REC Opinion

    17 Dec 2025

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion