Russell Eric A, Hsu Deborah, Camp Elizabeth A, Soto-Ruiz Karina, Leaming-Van Zandt Katherine
From the Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX.
Pediatr Emerg Care. 2023 Apr 1;39(4):253-258. doi: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000002681. Epub 2022 Mar 8.
Medical communication is more than just the delivery of information; language differences between physicians and patients/caregivers create a challenge to providing effective care in the pediatric emergency department (ED). Overcoming this barrier is vital to providing high-quality care. We evaluated Spanish- versus English-speaking caregivers' perception of their pediatric ED physicians' interpersonal and communication skills. We also compared perceptions of Spanish- versus English-speaking caregivers who self-identified as Hispanic.
This study is a retrospective analysis of data from surveys administered in an urban, free-standing children's hospital ED. Surveys were administered in English and Spanish to pediatric patient caregivers. In person, video, and telephonic interpretations were available during patient encounters.
There were 2542 (82.4%) surveys completed in English and 543 (17.6%) in Spanish. There were significant differences in demographic data of English versus Spanish survey respondents, including level of education, insurance status, and rates of nonpublic insurance. Spanish survey respondents rated their physicians' interpersonal skills lower than English survey respondents. There were 1455 (47%) surveys completed by the respondents who self-identified as Hispanic. Within this group, 928 (63.8%) respondents completed the survey in English and 527 (36.2%) in Spanish. Among this Hispanic population, the Spanish survey respondents rated their physicians' interpersonal and communication skills lower than English survey respondents. After adjusting for education level and insurance type, these differences persisted.
Language barriers have a meaningful impact on physician ability to communicate effectively in the pediatric ED. Improving physicians' ability to overcome this barrier is essential toward enriching patient outcomes and experience in the ED.
医学交流不仅仅是信息的传递；医生与患者/护理人员之间的语言差异给儿科急诊科（ED）提供有效护理带来了挑战。克服这一障碍对于提供高质量护理至关重要。我们评估了讲西班牙语与讲英语的护理人员对其儿科急诊科医生人际沟通技能的看法。我们还比较了自我认定为西班牙裔的讲西班牙语与讲英语的护理人员的看法。
本研究是对一家城市独立儿童医院急诊科进行的调查数据的回顾性分析。对儿科患者护理人员进行了英语和西班牙语的调查。在患者就诊期间可提供面对面、视频和电话口译服务。
共完成2542份（82.4%）英语调查问卷和543份（17.6%）西班牙语调查问卷。英语和西班牙语调查受访者的人口统计学数据存在显著差异，包括教育水平、保险状况和非公共保险费率。西班牙语调查受访者对医生人际技能的评分低于英语调查受访者。有1455份（47%）调查问卷由自我认定为西班牙裔的受访者完成。在这一组中，928名（63.8%）受访者用英语完成调查，527名（36.2%）用西班牙语完成调查。在这个西班牙裔人群中，西班牙语调查受访者对医生人际和沟通技能的评分低于英语调查受访者。在调整教育水平和保险类型后，这些差异仍然存在。
语言障碍对儿科急诊科医生有效沟通的能力有重大影响。提高医生克服这一障碍的能力对于改善急诊科患者的治疗效果和就医体验至关重要。
