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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
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1 to 4 of 4 Research Studies DisplayedHsueh L, Huang J, Millman AK
Cross-sectional association of patient language and patient-provider language concordance with video telemedicine use among patients with limited English proficiency.
The surge in telemedicine use during the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the need to address gaps in patient care, particularly for individuals with limited English proficiency. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between patient language, patient-provider language alignment, and the type of telemedicine visit (video or phone consultation). The researchers conducted a cross-sectional analysis using automated data from primary care telemedicine appointments scheduled between March 16, 2020, and October 31, 2020 within a comprehensive healthcare delivery system in Northern California. A total of 22,427 completed primary care telemedicine visits booked by 13,764 patients with limited English proficiency through the patient portal. The study examined the cross-sectional link between electronic health record-documented patient language (with Spanish as the reference) and patient-provider language concordance, considering patient demographics, technology access, and technology familiarity. RESULTS: The study found that among all scheduled appointments, 34.5% (n=7747) were video consultations. The three most common patient languages were Spanish (42.4%), Cantonese (16.9%), and Mandarin (10.3%). After adjusting for demographic and technology factors, video visit usage was higher for patients speaking Cantonese, Mandarin, or Vietnamese, compared to Spanish-speaking patients, but lower for those who spoke Punjabi. Language concordance was linked to decreased video visit utilization and influenced the relationship between speaking Spanish, Cantonese, and Korean with video visit usage. Furthermore, for all language groups, patients with prior video visit experience were more likely to use video visits again.
AHRQ-funded; HS025189
Citation: Hsueh L, Huang J, Millman AK .
Cross-sectional association of patient language and patient-provider language concordance with video telemedicine use among patients with limited English proficiency.
J Gen Intern Med 2023 Feb;38(3):633-40. doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07887-6.
Keywords: Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Cultural Competence, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Healthcare Delivery, COVID-19
Jensen JL, Sweeney A, Gill C
Evaluation of patient access to Spanish-language-concordant care on a postpartum unit.
This study evaluated patient access to Spanish-language-concordant care on a postpartum unit and to identify facilitators and barriers to the use of interpretation services. This mixed-methods study included a chart review of 50 randomly selected birthing parent-newborn couplets and interviews with 14 inpatient health care team members, and semistructured interviews at a tertiary academic medical center in the southeastern United States. The chart review included examination of patient characteristics, health care team composition including Spanish language proficiency, length of stay, number of interpreter requests, and time between clinician interpreter requests and interpreter arrival on the unit. Access to an interpreter or clinician certified in medical Spanish was offered to 12 of 50 (24%) couplets upon admission to the unit and to 7 of 50 (14%) of couplets for daily maternal and newborn medical rounds. Clinicians reported on long and unpredictable wait times to access interpreters. Temporary solutions included relying on hand gestures, broken Spanish, and smartphone apps to "get by" when communicating with patients without certified interpretation services. These deviations from national standards may put postpartum families at risk for harm.
AHRQ-funded; HS027260.
Citation: Jensen JL, Sweeney A, Gill C .
Evaluation of patient access to Spanish-language-concordant care on a postpartum unit.
Nurs Womens Health 2022 Dec;26(6):429-38. doi: 10.1016/j.nwh.2022.09.002.
Keywords: Maternal Care, Cultural Competence, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication
Gutman CK, Lion KC, Fisher CL
Breaking through barriers: the need for effective research to promote language-concordant communication as a facilitator of equitable emergency care.
The authors discuss the issue of individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) and the high risk for adverse outcomes in the US health care system, especially in the emergency department. They point out that, although professional language interpretation improves the quality of care for these patients, it remains underused. They find few examples in the literature of rigorous interventions to improve quality of care and outcomes for patients with LEP and urge further high-quality research to improve communication with patients with LEP along the continuum of emergency care in order to achieve equity in outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS026006.
Citation: Gutman CK, Lion KC, Fisher CL .
Breaking through barriers: the need for effective research to promote language-concordant communication as a facilitator of equitable emergency care.
J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open 2022 Feb;3(1):e12639. doi: .
Keywords: Communication, Emergency Department, Cultural Competence, Clinician-Patient Communication
Squires A
Evidence-based approaches to breaking down language barriers.
This article provides background information about language barriers between nurses and patients and some strategies for addressing these gaps. After detailing how these barriers affect patient outcomes, practice-based strategies are offered to improve outcomes and reduce readmissions. Although the article doesn’t address barriers to communicating with patients with hearing loss, many of the same principles apply to these patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS023593.
Citation: Squires A .
Evidence-based approaches to breaking down language barriers.
Nursing 2017 Sep;47(9):34-40. doi: 10.1097/01.NURSE.0000522002.60278.ca.
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Keywords: Communication, Cultural Competence, Evidence-Based Practice, Nursing, Clinician-Patient Communication