What we learned about language barriers at Röntgenveckan

In September we had the privilege to exhibit at Röntgenveckan, Sweden’s largest radiology exhibition and conference. It was a week full of inspiring conversations, curious visitors stopping by our booth, and plenty of great coffee.

Language barriers survey results

During the fair, we conducted a quick survey among attendees to learn more about how language barriers affect radiology teams in their daily work. Here’s what we found:

• Everyone agreed language barriers are a real problem.
• 25% said language barriers arise daily, while 60% answered weekly, and 15% monthly.
• 75% use Google Translate to handle language barriers, while 15% said they don’t use it because they prefer not to, or that they rely on relatives.
• On average, they estimated that appointments take 10-30 minutes longer due to language challenges.
• The hardest languages to find interpreters for are, for them, Arabic, Dari, Somali, and Tigrinya.
  

When asked which phrases would be most useful be able to say in all languages, responses included:

• “Hello and welcome”
• “Do you have diabetes?”
• “Have you gotten contrast fluid?”
• “Breathe in”
• “Hold your breath”
• “Lie still”
• “Never miss your screening”
• “It’s ok”
• “It’s done”
• “Goodbye”

Déjà vu from last year

Interestingly, we asked the same questions at last year’s Röntgenveckan in Örebro, and the answers were almost identical. The fact that many professionals still highlight phrases like “hello,” “welcome,” “goodbye,” and “hold your breath” as their top priorities shows how fundamental these communication needs are.

This year, one participant even said that they wished they could say “It’s ok” – simply to be able to calm a patient. It’s such a small phrase, but it carries big weight. It tells us that healthcare professionals are not just trying to do their job efficiently, they also care deeply about their patients’ experience.

Key learnings

• Language barriers are persistent. Even a year later, the same pain points remain.
• Time is lost every day. Up to 30 minutes extra per patient is a huge burden on radiology workflows.
• Small phrases make a big difference. Simple words like “hello,” “hold your breath,” and “it’s ok” are essential for patient comfort and safety.
• There’s a strong need for better tools. Professionals are still relying heavily on general tools like Google Translate or relatives, which aren’t ideal in clinical settings.

Röntgenveckan was a reminder of why we do what we do – and why it matters. Language shouldn’t stand in the way of great patient care. We left the event inspired to keep building solutions that help radiology professionals communicate clearly and compassionately with every patient.

Want to see how our translation app can help communication with patients in your area of care? Book a demo or contact us to hear more.

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