TY - JOUR
T1 - Changes in language services use by US pediatricians
AU - DeCamp, Lisa Ross
AU - Kuo, Dennis Z.
AU - Flores, Glenn
AU - O'Connor, Karen
AU - Minkovitz, Cynthia S.
PY - 2013/8
Y1 - 2013/8
N2 - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Access to appropriate language services is critical for ensuring patient safety and reducing the impact of language barriers. This study compared language services use by US pediatricians in 2004 and 2010 and examined variation in use in 2010 by pediatrician, practice, and state characteristics. METHODS: We used data from 2 national surveys of pediatricians (2004: n = 698; 2010: n = 683). Analysis was limited to postresidency pediatricians with patients with limited English proficiency (LEP). Pediatricians reported use of $1 communication methods with LEP patients: bilingual family member, staff, physician, formal interpreter (professional, telephone), and primary-language written materials. Bivariate analyses examined 2004 to 2010 changes in methods used, and 2010 use by characteristics of pediatricians (age, sex, ethnicity), practices (type, location, patient demographics), and states (LEP population, Latino population growth, Medicaid/Children's Health Insurance Program language services reimbursement). Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine adjusted odds of use of each method. RESULTS: Most pediatricians reported using familymembers to communicate with LEP patients and families, but there was a decrease from 2004 to 2010 (69.6%, 57.1%, P , .01). A higher percentage of pediatricians reported formal interpreter use (professional and/or telephone) in 2010 (55.8%) than in 2004 (49.7%, P , .05); the increase was primarily attributable to increased telephone interpreter use (28.2%, 37.8%, P , .01). Pediatricians in states with reimbursement had twice the odds of formal interpreter use versus those in nonreimbursing states (odds ratio 2.34; 95% confidence interval 1.24-4.40). CONCLUSIONS: US pediatricians' use of appropriate language services has only modestly improved since 2004. Expanding language services reimbursement may increase formal interpreter use.
AB - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Access to appropriate language services is critical for ensuring patient safety and reducing the impact of language barriers. This study compared language services use by US pediatricians in 2004 and 2010 and examined variation in use in 2010 by pediatrician, practice, and state characteristics. METHODS: We used data from 2 national surveys of pediatricians (2004: n = 698; 2010: n = 683). Analysis was limited to postresidency pediatricians with patients with limited English proficiency (LEP). Pediatricians reported use of $1 communication methods with LEP patients: bilingual family member, staff, physician, formal interpreter (professional, telephone), and primary-language written materials. Bivariate analyses examined 2004 to 2010 changes in methods used, and 2010 use by characteristics of pediatricians (age, sex, ethnicity), practices (type, location, patient demographics), and states (LEP population, Latino population growth, Medicaid/Children's Health Insurance Program language services reimbursement). Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine adjusted odds of use of each method. RESULTS: Most pediatricians reported using familymembers to communicate with LEP patients and families, but there was a decrease from 2004 to 2010 (69.6%, 57.1%, P , .01). A higher percentage of pediatricians reported formal interpreter use (professional and/or telephone) in 2010 (55.8%) than in 2004 (49.7%, P , .05); the increase was primarily attributable to increased telephone interpreter use (28.2%, 37.8%, P , .01). Pediatricians in states with reimbursement had twice the odds of formal interpreter use versus those in nonreimbursing states (odds ratio 2.34; 95% confidence interval 1.24-4.40). CONCLUSIONS: US pediatricians' use of appropriate language services has only modestly improved since 2004. Expanding language services reimbursement may increase formal interpreter use.
KW - Health disparities
KW - Hispanic health care
KW - Interpreters
KW - Language barriers
KW - Patient safety
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U2 - 10.1542/peds.2012-2909
DO - 10.1542/peds.2012-2909
M3 - Article
C2 - 23837185
AN - SCOPUS:84882283565
SN - 0031-4005
VL - 132
SP - e396-e406
JO - Pediatrics
JF - Pediatrics
IS - 2
ER -