A Secret Shopper Study of Language Accessibility of Community-Based Behavioral Health Services for Children in Families Who Speak Spanish and English.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare outpatient behavioral health scheduling for children in Spanish-speaking families in Pennsylvania with that for children in families who speak English. STUDY DESIGN: We made paired English and Spanish telephone calls to outpatient behavioral health facilities using a standardized script, describing a simulated, stable, Medicaid-insured child. Facilities were identified using the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Online Provider Directory for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, which had 288 outpatient facilities with nonduplicate telephone numbers. An English-language caller following a script made up to 2 call attempts per facility from December 2019 through February 2020. The 126 facilities that did not answer the phone, accept Medicaid, or see children were removed. A Spanish-language caller then made up to 2 scripted call attempts to the 162 remaining facilities. The primary outcome was whether the facility tried to schedule an appointment for the simulated adolescent. RESULTS: A total of 125 facilities answered both English- and Spanish-language calls. For the English-language caller, 71% of facilities attempted to schedule an appointment and 100% communicated in the caller's preferred language. For the Spanish-language caller, 24% attempted to schedule an appointment (P < .001) and 25% communicated in the caller's preferred language (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Among outpatient behavioral health facilities for Medicaid-insured children in Pennsylvania, there were inequities in access to appointments for families who speak Spanish compared with English. This is a modifiable barrier to care. Community-based behavioral health care for children should strengthen language access training, contracting, and oversight.

"Complete and Accurate, and Warmhearted Too": Telemedicine Experiences and Care Needs of Mandarin-Speaking Patients with Limited English Proficiency.

BACKGROUND: Despite greater care needs, patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) are less likely to use telemedicine. Given the expansion of telemedicine since the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying ways to narrow the telemedicine care gaps experienced by people with LEP is essential. OBJECTIVE: Examine the telemedicine experiences of Mandarin-speaking adults with LEP, with a focus on perceived differences between in-person care, video, and telephone telemedicine. PARTICIPANTS: Random sample of Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) members who completed at least one primary care telemedicine visit in August 2021, aged 40 years or older, and had electronic health record-documented need for a Mandarin interpreter. The sample was stratified by telemedicine visit type (video or phone). APPROACH: Semi-structured Mandarin-language telephone interviews with a bilingual and bicultural research assistant collected patient experiences with telemedicine in general and telemedicine visits assisted by interpreters. Two coders used rapid qualitative analytic techniques to capture themes. KEY RESULTS: Among 20 respondents (n = 12, 60% women) age 41-81, all had prior experience with telephone visits and 17 (85%) had experience with video visits. Patients reported three major themes: (1) communication, language skills, and how patience impacts care quality; (2) the importance of matching patient preferences on communication modality; and (3) the need for comprehensive language services throughout the continuum of healthcare delivery. CONCLUSION: Mandarin-speaking adults with LEP see telemedicine as a convenient and necessary service. Issues with healthcare providers' and interpreters' communication skills and impatience were common. The lack of wrap-around language-concordant care beyond the visit itself was cited as an ongoing and unaddressed care barrier. Healthcare provider and interpreter training is important, as is availability of personalized and comprehensive language services in promoting patient autonomy, alleviating the burden on patients' families, and thus ensuring equitable healthcare access.

Exploring the Telephone Call Experience of Patients with Non-English Language Preference in Primary Care vs. Specialty.

BACKGROUND: Latine people, comprising 18.5% of the US population, constitute the largest ethnic minority group, with nearly one-third self-identifying as having non-English language preference (NELP). Despite the importance of the telephone in health care access, there is limited understanding of how NELP patients navigate telephone calls with primary and specialty care clinics. OBJECTIVE: This qualitative study aims to capture how Spanish speakers with NELP characterize their telephone call experiences with primary and specialty care clinics. DESIGN: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 Spanish-speaking participants from primary care clinics with a sizeable proportion of patients who prefer to communicate in a language other than English at an urban academic medical center in Boston, MA. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were selected from primary care clinics that were well-equipped to serve Spanish-speaking patients. A total of 24 Spanish-speaking patients with NELP, mainly women (83%), with a mean age of 55.8 years, participated. They represented diverse countries of origin, with an average length of time in the USA of 21.7 years. APPROACH: Interview questions prompted participants to describe their telephone call experiences with front desk staff, with attention to interpreter availability, ancillary assistance, health outcomes stemming from a lack of language services, and emotional consequences of language discordance on calls. KEY RESULTS: Patients perceived primary care clinics as providing familiarity and language concordance during telephone interactions, contrasting with specialty care clinics, seen as sources of monolingual English communication. Participants utilized various strategies, such as requesting interpreters, using concise English phrases, or seeking assistance from acquaintances, relatives, or primary care clinic staff, to mitigate language barriers. CONCLUSIONS: The findings underscore significant challenges faced by Spanish-speaking patients with NELP in ambulatory specialty care telephone calls. The study emphasizes the importance of creating inclusive multilingual telephone environments, standardizing interpreter access, and reflecting the diversity of the communities served.

An absence of translated consent forms limits oncologic clinical trial enrollment for limited English proficiency participants.

OBJECTIVES: A lack of diversity amongst participants in cancer clinical trials has raised scrutiny over the past decade. Patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) are further excluded. One modifiable reason for low LEP participation is a lack of non-English consent forms. METHODS: We queried the clinical trials registry database at an academic hospital serving a predominantly Spanish-speaking patient population. Clinical trials related to gynecology oncology were evaluated for the availability of fully translated Spanish consent forms, the racial and ethnic identification of enrolled patients, and the number of signed Spanish consents. Enrolment data was compared before and after 2019, when institutional financial support for document translation was withdrawn. RESULTS: Sixteen gynecologic oncology clinical trials were opened between 2014 and 2022, with 10 trials enrolling 128 patients. Eight trials opened prior to 2019, all with fully translated consent forms. Seven of these trials enrolled 99 participants, 70% of whom identified as Hispanic and 60% who signed a Spanish consent. Eight trials opened after 2019 and one had a fully translated consent form. Three of the trials enrolled 29 participants, with 10% of subjects identifying as Hispanic and none signing a Spanish consent form. CONCLUSIONS: There was a decrease in fully translated clinical trial consent forms for gynecologic oncology studies following the loss of subsidized translation services in our single institution with a predominantly LEP population. This correlated with a decrease in enrollment of Hispanic subjects. To increase enrollment of diverse participants, including those with LEP, simple actions such as fully translating consent forms would help maintain equity in research conduct and improve clinical outcomes through trial involvement.

The effect of limited english proficiency on prostate-specific antigen screening in American men.

PURPOSE: To evaluate how limited English proficiency (LEP) impacts the prevalence of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening in a contemporary, nationally representative cohort of men in the USA. METHODS: The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey was utilized to identify the prevalence of PSA screening between 2013 and 2016 among men ≥ 55. Men who speak a language other than English at home were stratified by self-reported levels of English proficiency (men who speak English very well, well, not well, or not at all). Survey weights were applied, and groups were compared using the adjusted Wald test. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify predictors of PSA screening adjusting for patient-level covariates. RESULTS: The cohort included 2,889 men, corresponding to a weighted estimate of 4,765,682 men. 79.6% of men who speak English very well reported receiving at least one lifetime PSA test versus 58.4% of men who do not speak English at all (p < 0.001). Men who reported not speaking English at all had significantly lower prevalence of PSA screening (aOR 0.56; 95% CI 0.35-0.91; p = 0.019). Other significant predictors of PSA screening included older age, income > 400% of the federal poverty level, insurance coverage, and healthcare utilization. CONCLUSIONS: Limited English proficiency is associated with significantly lower prevalence of PSA screening among men in the USA. Interventions to mitigate disparities in prostate cancer outcomes should account for limited English proficiency among the barriers to guideline-concordant care.

Assessment of disparities in timely diagnosis and comprehensive workup of cognitive impairment between English and Spanish speakers.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have examined disparities in dementia care that affect the U.S. Hispanic/Latino population, including clinician bias, lack of cultural responsiveness, and less access to health care. However, there is limited research that specifically investigates the impact of language barriers to health disparities in dementia diagnosis. METHODS: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 12,080 English- or Spanish- speaking patients who received an initial diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia between July 2017 and June 2019 were identified in the Yale New Haven Health (YNHH) electronic medical record. To evaluate the timeliness of diagnosis, an initial diagnosis of MCI was classified as "timely", while an initial diagnosis of dementia was considered "delayed." Comprehensiveness of diagnosis was assessed by measuring the presence of laboratory studies, neuroimaging, specialist evaluation, and advanced diagnostics six months before or after diagnosis. Binomial logistic regressions were calculated with and without adjustment for age, legal sex, ethnicity, neighborhood disadvantage, and medical comorbidities. RESULTS: Spanish speakers were less likely to receive a timely diagnosis when compared with English speakers both before (unadjusted OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.53-0.80, p <0.0001) and after adjusting for covariates (adjusted OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.40-0.75, p = 0.0001). Diagnostic services were provided equally between groups, except for referrals to geriatrics, which were more frequent among Spanish-speaking patients. A subgroup analysis revealed that Spanish-speaking Hispanic/Latino patients were less likely to receive a timely diagnosis compared to English-speaking Hispanic/Latino patients (adjusted OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.38-0.73, p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Non-English language preference is likely to be a contributing factor to timely diagnosis of cognitive impairment. In this study, Spanish language preference rather than Hispanic/Latino ethnicity was a significant predictor of a less timely diagnosis of cognitive impairment. Policy changes are needed to reduce barriers in cognitive disorders care for Spanish-speaking patients.

Evaluation of Limited English Proficiency in the Management and Outcomes of Appendicitis in Children.

INTRODUCTION: Appendectomies are one of the most common pediatric surgical procedures. Limited English proficiency (LEP) may lead to disparities in health outcomes between English-proficient and LEP patients. This study assesses the association between LEP and postoperative outcomes in pediatric appendectomy. METHODS: We analyzed records from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric database from 2010 to 2023 under 18 y of age undergoing appendectomy at our institution. LEP was defined as the need for an interpreter. Primary outcomes were postoperative complications, length of stay (LOS), and postoperative emergency department (ED) visits within 30 d of discharge. Multivariable analyses were performed. RESULTS: One thousand one hundred forty three children with appendicitis were identified, with 208 (18.2%) LEP and 935 (81.8%) English-proficient patients. LEP children were more likely to present with complicated appendicitis (42.8% versus 25.5%, P < 0.0001) and sepsis (34.1% versus 21.6%, P = 0.0003). LEP patients experience more serious (8.6% versus 3.9%, P = 0.02), overall complications (10.1% versus 5.5%, P = 0.006), and organ/surgical space site infections (8.2% versus 3.3%, P = 0.003). On multivariable analysis controlling for ethnicity and factors associated with complicated presentation, LEP was associated with increased postoperative ED visits (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.40-4.39), but not LOS (aOR 1.86, 95% CI = 0.87-3.97) or complications (aOR 1.76, 95% CI = 0.79-4.00). CONCLUSIONS: LEP is independently associated with increased postoperative ED visits. Higher rates of complications and longer LOS may be related to increased complicated appendicitis at presentation. The role of cultural preferences and other social determinants of health that contribute to these disparities needs more investigation.

A Scoping Review of Limited English Proficiency and Immigration in Pediatric Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: With increasing globalization and diversity, the intersection of immigration and language barriers can impact patient outcomes. This scope review aims to summarize current evidence on immigration and language barriers on pediatric surgical outcomes. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Four databases were searched with Medical Subject Heading terms describing pediatric surgery, immigration, limited English proficiency (LEP), and refugees between 2000-2023. Four independent reviewers screened and analyzed texts for final inclusion. RESULTS: Thirty-three studies were included. Ten studies described disease incidence and severity, finding that LEP, immigrant, and refugee patients were more likely to present with severe disease in appendicitis and traumatic injuries. five studies described pain management, finding patients with LEP received fewer pain assessments, waited longer for analgesia, and had more discrepancies in pain scores. Seventeen studies investigated treatment receipt and delay, finding that immigrants and patients with LEP had longer time to and reduced rates of treatment. Seventeen studies described surgical outcomes, finding that patients with LEP have longer length of stay and more postoperative emergency department visits but fewer follow-up appointments. In kidney transplants, patients with LEP and immigrants had worse outcomes, but these trends are not seen in immigrants from Europe. Overall, immigrants and refugees have higher rates of complications and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Immigrants and patients with LEP and are more likely to present with advanced disease and severe injuries, receive inadequate pain management, experience delays in surgery, and suffer more complications. There is continued need to assess the impact of LEP and immigration on pediatric surgery outcomes.

Limited English Proficiency Is Not Associated With Poor Postoperative Outcomes or Follow-Up Rates in Patients Undergoing Breast Reduction Mammoplasty - A Single Institution Retrospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Limited English Proficiency (LEP) status has been associated with worse patient outcomes on a variety of metrics. METHODS: A retrospective review of all bilateral breast reduction mammoplasty patients at our institution between 2015 and 2019 was performed. Data collected include patient demographics, language status, interpreter usage, complications, and follow-up clinic/emergency department visits. Patients were grouped into high and low follow-up cohorts by median follow-up. Bivariate testing and regression modeling were used for analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1023 patients were included. Average age and body mass index (BMI) were 37.7 years and 31.7 kg/m2. All LEP (21%) patients used interpreters. There were 590 individuals in the low follow-up and 433 in the high follow-up group. Those in low follow-up were younger, with lower BMI, and were more likely to use Medicaid. Prevalence of diabetes and postoperative emergency department visits were higher in the high follow-up cohort. There were no significant differences in race/ethnicity, smoking status, and interpreter use between groups. Poisson modeling demonstrated that presence of complications is associated with a 0.435 increase in the number of clinic visits and a 1-y increase in age is associated with a 0.006 increase (P < 0.001). Interpreter use was not significantly associated with postoperative clinic visits. Multivariable regression modeling demonstrated BMI and diabetes to be significantly associated with incidence of any complication (odds ratio: 1.08 & 2.234; P < 0.001 &P = 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: LEP status was not associated with worse postoperative outcomes or follow-up length in patients undergoing breast reduction mammoplasty. This may be due to interpreter use and effective patient education.

A Role for Health Literacy in Protecting People With Limited English Proficiency Against Falling: A Retrospective, Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors related to falls within the scope of speech-language pathology (SLP) using assessments from the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility-Patient Assessment Instrument over a 4-month period in 4 inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs). DESIGN: Observational retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Four IRFs as part of a larger learning health system. PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged ≥18 years admitted to the IRFs from October 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023 were included. INTERVENTION: N/A. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Occurrence of falls. RESULTS: Analyses of 631 patient records revealed that the odds of falling were almost 3 times greater in people with limited English proficiency than in English speakers (odds ratio [OR], 2.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-6.85). People with limited English proficiency who reported poorer health literacy had 4 times higher odds of falling (OR, 3.90; 95% CI, 1.13-13.44) than English speakers who reported adequate health literacy. People with limited English proficiency who reported adequate health literacy had the same risk of falling as English speakers (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.16-6.12), suggesting the protective role of health literacy for people with limited English proficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Language barriers have a significant effect on falls among patients in IRFs. SLPs improving health literacy and providing language support may play a crucial role in mitigating fall risk, thereby enhancing patient safety and outcomes.

Racial difference in receiving computed tomography for head injury patients in emergency departments.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Prior studies have suggested potential racial differences in receiving imaging tests in emergency departments (EDs), but the results remain inconclusive. In addition, most prior studies may only have limited racial groups for minority patients. This study aimed to investigate racial differences in head computed tomography (CT) administration rates in EDs among patients with head injuries. METHODS: Patients with head injuries who visited EDs were examined. The primary outcome was patients receiving head CT during ED visits, and the primary exposure was patient race/ethnicity, including Asian, Hispanic, Non-Hispanic Black (Black), and Non-Hispanic White (White). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed using the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey database, adjusting for patients and hospital characteristics. RESULTS: Among 6130 patients, 51.9% received a head CT scan. Asian head injury patients were more likely to receive head CT than White patients (59.1% versus 54.0%, difference 5.1%, p < 0.001). This difference persisted in adjusted results (odds ratio, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.06-2.16, p = 0.022). In contrast, Black and Hispanic patients have no significant difference in receiving head CT than White patients after the adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Asian head injury patients were more likely to receive head CT than White patients. This difference may be attributed to the limited English proficiency among Asian individuals and the fact that there is a wide variety of different languages spoken by Asian patients. Future studies should examine rates of receiving other diagnostic imaging modalities among different racial groups and possible interventions to address this difference.

A systematic review and narrative synthesis of health literacy interventions among Spanish speaking populations in the United States.

BACKGROUND: While many populations struggle with health literacy, those who speak Spanish preferentially or exclusively, including Hispanic, immigrant, or migrant populations, may face particular barriers, as they navigate a predominantly English-language healthcare system. This population also faces greater morbidity and mortality from treatable chronic diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes. The aim of this systematic review was to describe existing health literacy interventions for patients with a Spanish-language preference and present their effectiveness. METHODS: We carried out a systematic review where Web of Science, EMBASE, and PubMed were queried using MeSH terms to identify relevant literature. Included articles described patients with a Spanish-language preference participating in interventions to improve health literacy levels in the United States. Screening and data abstraction were conducted independently and in pairs. Risk of bias assessments were conducted using validated appraisal tools. RESULTS: A total of 2823 studies were identified, of which 62 met our eligibility criteria. The studies took place in a variety of community and clinical settings and used varied tools for measuring health literacy. Of the interventions, 28 consisted of in-person education and 27 implemented multimedia education, with 89% of studies in each category finding significant results. The remaining seven studies featured multimodal interventions, all of which achieved significant results. CONCLUSION: Successful strategies included the addition of liaison roles, such as promotores (Hispanic community health workers), and the use of multimedia fotonovelas (photo comics) with linguistic and cultural adaptations. In some cases, the external validity of the results was limited. Improving low health literacy in patients with a Spanish-language preference, a population with existing barriers to high quality of care, may help them better navigate health infrastructure and make informed decisions regarding their health. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (available at https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021257655.t ).

Learning to collaborate with medical interpreters in health professions education: A systematic review of training programs.

BACKGROUND: Working effectively with medical interpreters is an increasingly valuable skill for clinicians to provide high-quality medical care. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of existing training programs that teach optimal collaboration practices between clinicians and interpreters during patient encounters. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane Central for studies published from 1945 through June 21, 2022. RESULTS: Out of the 1689 studies screened, we identified 19 studies that met inclusion criteria. Participants were from diverse professions, medical specialities, and training levels. Interpreter involvement in the development or delivery of the program was mentioned in 63% of the evaluated studies. There was substantial variability in training design, assessment methods, and reported outcomes. Only 10 of the programs included an objective knowledge or skills assessment. Only one study conducted a longitudinal assessment of skill maintenance over time. The training programs were generally well received. CONCLUSIONS: There is a critical need for structured programs to train clinicians to effectively collaborate with medical interpreters to reduce healthcare disparities. An effective training program should involve interpreters in the development and delivery of the program, practical skills development through interactive activities, structured clinical skill assessment, and both in-person and virtual components.

Improving pain communication between limited English-speaking Hmong patients, medical interpreters, and health care providers in primary care: A pilot study.

This pilot study assessed the feasibility of implementing a pain assessment information visualization (InfoViz) tool to address cultural and language barriers among limited English proficiency (LEP) Hmong patients in primary care. We used a static group comparison design to collect data from 20 patient, interpreter, and provider triads under usual care (i.e., interpreter using verbal pain descriptions), followed by another 20 triads under the intervention (i.e., interpreter using verbal pain descriptions and the InfoViz tool). Feasibility outcomes included recruitment and retention rates, InfoViz tool completion, acceptability, and fidelity. We also assessed mutual understanding (MU) and pain electronic health record (EHR) documentation. Descriptive data were calculated and thematic analysis was conducted. Thirty-six LEP Hmong patients (n = 29 female, mean age = 59.03), 27 providers (n = 15 female), and four interpreters participated in this study. The patient recruitment rate was 18% while the retention rate was 81%. Interpreter recruitment rate was 80%, and 75% for retention rate. The intervention fidelity mean score was 83%. In the intervention condition, patient-provider MU of pain severity improved by 30%, coupled with a 28% increase in pain severity EHR documentation compared to usual care. While communication of pain quality did not improve, there was a higher mean number of pain descriptors (3.31 in the intervention vs. 1.79 in usual care) in EHR documentation. All participants had a positive experience with the tool, reporting it as valuable with 100% completeness of all tools. Findings revealed the tool was acceptable and feasible to use among LEP patients-interpreters-providers, providing support for an efficacy study.

Teaching foundational language equity concepts in the pre-clinical curriculum.

BACKGROUND: Despite the prevalence of non-English languages in the US population, existing medical training to teach communication with linguistically diverse communities is limited to electives or solely focuses on medical interpreting. Language-appropriate communication skills are seldom comprehensively integrated in medical education. This study describes the development and evaluation of an intervention to teach foundational language equity concepts. METHODS: The authors implemented a pre-clinical language equity course at three medical school campuses between August 2020 and March 2022. Sessions focused on the impact of language in health, physician language proficiency standards, and working with medical interpreters. The study sought to (1) understand students' language skills and prior clinical experiences with patients with non-English language preference and (2) evaluate the curriculum's impact. Students self-reported their language skills and experiences as part of a voluntary pre-questionnaire. Pre and post-questionnaires evaluated knowledge, attitudes, and intent to apply language equity concepts. Descriptive statistics and chi-squared tests were used to examine trends; themes were identified from free-text responses. RESULTS: Overall, 301 students completed the course, 252 (83%) completed at least one questionnaire; for each session, between 35% and 46% of learners completed both pre and post-questionnaires. Three quarters (189/252) reported non-English languages. Over half (138/252) reported previous non-English language patient care, and 28% (62/224) had served as ad hoc (untrained) interpreters. Only two students (< 1%) had ever been assessed for medical language abilities. Students demonstrated improved post-course language equity knowledge, strategies for interpreter-mediated encounters, and likelihood to report a plan for language skills assessment (all p < .001). Most plans were multifaceted (61%, 38/62), involving goals like completing a language course, taking a proficiency exam, openly discussing skills and uncertainties with team members, and increasing professional interpreter utilization. CONCLUSIONS: A longitudinal language equity curriculum can be feasibly integrated in pre-clinical education, highlight the linguistic diversity of the student body, and serve as a first step in ensuring that all students have a strong language equity foundation prior to clinical rotations. Future steps include evaluating the intervention's potential long-term effects on professional interpreter utilization, student clinical performance, and institutional culture that promotes multilingualism.

The Effect of Language on the Decision to Image in the Evaluation of Atraumatic Headache.

BACKGROUND: Patients with limited English proficiency seen in the emergency department (ED) experience lower quality of care and higher diagnostic resource utilization unless they are evaluated in their own language. Despite a low rate of serious pathology identified and the availability of guidelines to direct its use, computed tomography (CT) is commonly used to evaluate atraumatic headache in the ED. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine whether Spanish-speaking patients with atraumatic headache were more likely than their English-speaking counterparts to undergo head CT, and whether evaluation by a clinician who passed a Spanish proficiency test mitigated this difference. METHODS: This retrospective observational study used electronic health record data of adult patients presenting with atraumatic headache to a level I trauma center during a 2-year period. Spanish-language testing of clinicians consisted of a brief, unvalidated, in-person, nonmedical verbal test administered by human resources staff. RESULTS: A total of 3030 patients with atraumatic headache were identified; 1437 were English speaking and 1593 were Spanish speaking. Spanish-speaking patients were older (48.3 vs. 41.9 years), more likely to be women (68.8% vs. 60.5%), and more likely to undergo head CT (31.8% vs. 26.4%). Evaluation by a clinician who passed the Spanish proficiency test had no significant influence on the likelihood of head CT for Spanish-speaking patients after controlling for confounding variables (adjusted odds ratio 0.95; 95% CI 0.75-1.20). CONCLUSIONS: Spanish-speaking patients are more likely to undergo head CT when evaluated for atraumatic headache than English-speaking patients. Evaluation by a clinician who passed a brief Spanish proficiency test did not mitigate this disparity.

Comparison of stroke process measures and clinical outcomes between English and Non-English preferring patients.

BACKGROUND: In the United States, limited English proficiency may reduce the quality of care and worsen outcomes after stroke. The aim was to compare stroke process measures and clinical outcomes between English preferring and non-English preferring stroke patients. METHODS/MATERIALS: This single-center retrospective cohort study evaluated patients from one United States hospital with acute ischemic stroke between July 2013 and June 2022. The primary outcomes were defect-free care, a composite of 7 stroke process measures, and independent ambulation at hospital discharge. Multivariate logistic regression models quantified the association between language preference and outcomes. Secondary outcomes included individual components of defect-free care, discharge modified Rankin scale, and discharge disposition. RESULTS: There were 4,030 patients with acute ischemic stroke identified, of which 2,965 were matched with language data from the electronic medical record. There were 373 non-English preferring patients, among which 76.9% preferred Spanish and 23.1% were non-English, non-Spanish preferring. In the multivariable model, there was no significant association between non-English preference and defect-free care (OR=0.64, 95% CI=0.26-1.59) or independent ambulation at discharge (OR=0.89, 95% CI=0.67-1.17). When compared to Spanish preferring patients, non-English, non-Spanish preferring patients had more severe strokes (P<0.001) but there was no difference in defect-free care or independent ambulation after adjustment. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that process and clinical outcomes are similar regardless of language preference; although, our data are limited by small numbers of non-English, non-Spanish preferring patients. Additional research is needed among this population.

Acculturation and Disparities in Telemedicine Readiness: A National Study.

Telemedicine provided older adults the ability to safely seek care during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to evaluate the potential impact of acculturation factors in telemedicine uptake between ethnic groups. As part of the National Health and Aging Trends Study 2018 survey, 303 participants (≥65 years) were interviewed. We assessed the impact of acculturation on telemedicine readiness by race and ethnicity. Compared to the white non-Hispanic immigrant population, Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander (API) populations had significantly lower telemedicine readiness and uptake. Limited English proficiency or older age at the time of migration was associated with telemedicine unreadiness and uptake in the Hispanic and API populations. Our findings suggested that acculturation factors play a substantial role in telemedicine uptake among older adult immigrants in the United States. Therefore, acculturation factors should be considered when promoting and adopting telemedicine technologies in older adults.

The use of interpreter services and its barriers faced by hospital staff when accessing interpreters for patients with low English proficiency during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: Patients with low English proficiency (LEP) often require interpreter services in health care, however, their usage remains low. This study aimed to explore the barriers to accessing interpreter services and suggests ways services can be improved in hospitals. METHODS: We conducted focus groups with clinicians and a retrospective audit of patient records. The clinicians were recruited from the inpatient wards and Emergency Department in a Sydney hospital, August 2022. The focus group discussion explored clinicians' experiences using an interpreter, and ways to improve access to the service. It was recorded, transcribed and coded thematically using Braun and Clarke's (2006) 6-step framework. The patient record data were linked with the interpreter service booking data to determine whether patients flagged as requiring an interpreter on admission were provided with the service. RESULTS: Two focus groups were conducted with clinicians (N = 9 in total). Long wait times for telephone interpreters, an inflexible booking system, and low availability of in-person interpreters were identified as the barriers. The COVID-19 pandemic also impacted in-person service provision. CONCLUSION: Some systemic barriers including an inflexible booking process and long wait times for immediate interpreter services were identified. The low use of interpreter services is attributed to the difficulties accessing the service and poor documentation in patient records. SO WHAT?: Greater availability of in-person interpreter services, an upgraded booking system, and effective implementation the NSW Health Standard Procedures for Working with Health Care Interpreters will address some of these barriers.

Intervention to promote preventive dental care for older Korean-American Medi-Cal enrollees in Los Angeles.

BACKGROUND: In California, preventive dental care is covered by Medi-Cal (California's Medicaid program). However, many beneficiaries do not use their dental benefits. Given that a lack of knowledge about oral health and insurance coverage contributes to this underutilization, promoting the use of dental benefits among eligible individuals via an educational program is imperative. Responding to the particular needs of older immigrants with limited English proficiency, we developed a digital oral health intervention for older Korean-American Medi-Cal enrollees in Los Angeles. This educational intervention is designed to be delivered via computers and the Internet. It consists of a 15-min self-running PowerPoint presentation narrated in Korean with links to additional information on the Internet. The slides contain information about the basic etiology of oral diseases, oral hygiene, common myths about oral health and dental care, Medi-Cal coverage of preventive dental care, and how to find a dental clinic. METHODS: We pilot tested the intervention with 12 participants to examine its feasibility and acceptability. We also obtained participants' qualitative feedback about the intervention. RESULTS: A post-intervention quantitative assessment yielded high participant satisfaction and improved oral health and dental care knowledge. Participant responses to the intervention yielded four themes: (1) content and structure, (2) linguistic and cultural aspects, (3) delivery mode, and (4) additional concerns and suggestions. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm the intervention's feasibility and acceptability and suggest further refinement.