Options for Lowering the Threshold to Brussels Out-of-hours Primary Care Services for Dutch Speaking Citizens

Previous studies have shown that language barriers in healthcare can lead to communication problems between healthcare provider and patient. This can lead to a decrease in satisfaction, quality of care and patient safety. Dutch speakers are a minority in Brussels (a Dutch-French bilingual region in Belgium), and the majority of general practitioners (GPs) in the Brussels out-of-hours primary care services are French-speaking. Measures are already being taken to increase the number of bilingual (Dutch and French) GPs.

In addition, several technological tools (e.g. video interpreting, translation apps, ...) exist to overcome language barriers. The investigators want to explore which of these options can be used in Brussels out-of-hours primary care services to improve access for Dutch-speaking citizens. The objective of this study is to examine both barriers and facilitators to use these technological translation tools during language-discordant consultations with a French-speaking GP and a Dutch-speaking patient in Brussels out-of-hours primary care services.

To achieve this objective, the investigators aim to engage Dutch-speaking patients, Dutch- and/or French-speaking GPs, as well as Dutch- and/or French-speaking representatives from pertinent organizational and policy sectors.

There will be about 40 participants in total. Participants will answer questions during an online group session (focus group). There will be 4 focus groups, with a maximum of 10 participants in each focus group. Each focus group will last 60-90 minutes.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients: adult, living in Brussels, Dutch-speaking
• GPs: adult, working in Brussels, Dutch- and/or French-speaking
• Employees of professional organization-regulatory bodies: adult, Dutch-and/or French-speaking

Exclusion criteria

• Subject is not capable of will
• Subject cannot express themself in Dutch or French