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Table 2 Self-rated German and Turkish linguistic proficiency and literacy

From: How do hospitalised patients with Turkish migration background estimate their language skills and their comprehension of medical information – a prospective cross-sectional study and comparison to native patients in Germany to assess the language barrier and the need for translation

German language “How would you rate your German linguistic proficiency?”

T n(%):

1: 9(7.44)

2: 22(18.18)

3: 36(29.75)

4: 28(23.14)

5: 26 (21.49)

mean ± SD: 3.33 ± 1.21*a

Turkish language “How would you rate your Turkish linguistic proficiency?”

T n(%):

1: 1(0.83)

2: 3(2.48)

3: 22(18.18)

4: 66(54.55)

5: 29(23.97)

mean ± SD: 3.98 ± 0.77*a

German language in daily activities “Is your German sufficient for your everyday-life activities?”

T n(%):

1 §: 13(10.74)

2: 22(18.18)

3: 23(19.01)

4: 22(18.18)

5: 41(33.88)

mean ± SD: 3.46 ± 1.39

German literacy “How well can you read and write in German?”

T n(%):

1: 27(22.31)

2: 13(10.74)

3: 24(19.84)

4: 24(19.84)

5: 33(27.27)

mean ± SD: 3.19 ± 1.50*b, *c

G n(%):

1: 0(0)

2: 0(0)

3: 9(7.44)

4: 49(40.50)

5: 63(52.07)

mean ± SD: 4.45 ± 0.63*b

Turkish literacy “How well can you read and write in Turkish?”

T n(%):

1: 16(13.22)

2: 6(4.96)

3: 18(14.88)

4: 49(40.45)

5: 32(26.45)

mean ± SD: 3.62 ± 1.29*c

  1. n, Number; SD, Standard deviation; T, Patients with Turkish migration background (n = 121). G, German patients without migration background (n = 121). Significant differences: *a: p < 0.0001, *b: p < 0.0001, *c: p = 0.0176. Rating: 1 = very bad, 2 = bad, 3 = average, 4 = good, 5 = very good. 1§ = very bad/only with the help of a translator.