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Linares M, Linares E, Rodriguez JA. Exploring the Telephone Call Experience of Patients with Non-English Language Preference in Primary Care vs. Specialty. J Gen Intern Med 2024:10.1007/s11606-024-08895-4. [PMID: 38961015 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-024-08895-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Linares
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Primary Care, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
| | | | - Jorge A Rodriguez
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Primary Care, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Allred CM, Nakamura R, Mull H, Wang X, Jio J, Messner J, Parikh SR, Sie K, Bonilla-Velez J. Effect of an Outbound Scheduling Team on the Timeliness of Scheduling Referrals to Pediatric Otolaryngology. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2024; 171:231-238. [PMID: 38327234 DOI: 10.1002/ohn.660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Families preferring to receive care in a language-other-than-English have disparities in access to care. We studied the effect of implementing an ambulatory outbound scheduling team on the timeliness of scheduling referrals to pediatric otolaryngology. We hypothesized this intervention could increase access to care. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort analysis. SETTING Tertiary care academic center. METHODS Data were abstracted from the hospital's enterprise database for patients referred to Otolaryngology over 3 years (October 2019-August 2022; 7675 referrals). An outbound scheduling team was created April 2021 and tasked with calling out to schedule referrals within one business day of receipt. Referral lag was compared across patient cohorts before and after the scheduling intervention. Log-transformed linear regression models were used to assess the impact of the scheduling intervention on referral lag for language cohorts. RESULTS The median preintervention referral lag was 6 days (interquartile range [IQR] 2-18), which was reduced to 1 day postintervention (IQR 0-5; P < .001). Preintervention language-other-than-English families had a median referral lag of 8 days (IQR 2-23), which was 1.27 times higher than for patients speaking English (P < .001). With implementation of the scheduling intervention, language-other-than-English families were scheduled in a median of 1 day (IQR 0-6), and the disparity in timeliness of scheduling was eliminated (P = .131). Postintervention, referral lag was reduced by 58% in the English and 64% in the language other than English cohorts. CONCLUSION Implementation of an outbound ambulatory scheduling process reduces referral lag for all patients and eliminated a disparity in referral lag for language-other-than-English families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleb M Allred
- Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Rina Nakamura
- Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Helen Mull
- Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Xing Wang
- Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jason Jio
- Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jack Messner
- Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Sanjay R Parikh
- Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Kathleen Sie
- Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Juliana Bonilla-Velez
- Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Chidiac C, Liu O, Gorijavolu R, Rhee DS, Garcia AV. Ethnic disparities in pediatric appendicitis: the impact of hispanic ethnicity on presentation, complications, and postoperative outcomes. Int J Colorectal Dis 2024; 39:29. [PMID: 38386177 PMCID: PMC10884102 DOI: 10.1007/s00384-024-04598-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Our study investigates ethnic disparities in pediatric appendicitis, focusing on the impact of Hispanic ethnicity on presentation, complications, and postoperative outcomes. METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of pediatric patients undergoing appendectomy for acute appendicitis from 2015 to 2020 using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric database. We compared 30-day postoperative complications, postoperative length of stay, and postoperative interventions between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White patients. RESULTS 65,976 patients were included, of which 23,462 (35.56%) were Hispanic and 42,514 (64.44%) non-Hispanic White. Hispanic children were more likely to present to the hospital with complicated appendicitis (31.75% vs. 25.15%, P < 0.0001) and sepsis (25.22% vs. 19.02%, P < 0.0001) compared to non-Hispanic White. Hispanics had higher rates of serious complications (4.06% vs. 3.55%, P = 0.001) but not overall complications (5.37% vs. 5.09%, P = 0.12). However, after multivariate analysis, Hispanic ethnicity was not associated with an increased rate of serious postoperative complications (OR 0.93, CI 0.85-1.01, P = 0.088); it was associated with less overall complications (OR 0.88, CI 0.81-0.96, P = 0.003) but a longer postoperative length of stay (OR 1.09, CI 1.04-1.14, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION Hispanic children are more likely to present with complicated appendicitis, contributing to increased postoperative complications. Notably, upon adjustment for the impact of complicated appendicitis, our findings suggest potentially favorable outcomes for Hispanic ethnicity. This emphasizes the need to understand delays in presentation to improve outcomes in the Hispanic population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charbel Chidiac
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1800 Orleans St Suite 7335, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Olivia Liu
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Daniel S Rhee
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1800 Orleans St Suite 7335, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Alejandro V Garcia
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1800 Orleans St Suite 7335, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
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Wentzel S, Craft A, Onwuka A, Lind M. Racial, ethnic and language disparities in healthcare utilization in pediatric patients following tonsillectomy. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2024; 176:111805. [PMID: 38043184 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2023.111805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States. However, there is little known about the intersectionality of race, ethnicity, and language and how these factors influence post-tonsillectomy outcomes such as ED utilization and hospital readmission rates. OBJECTIVE To examine disparities in emergency department (ED) utilization and hospital readmissions for post-tonsillectomy complications based on insurance status, patient race, ethnicity and language spoken. DESIGN This was retrospective cohort over four years. SETTING Tertiary Care Children's Hospital. PARTICIPANTS All children (n = 10,215) who underwent tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy at a tertiary children's hospital from January 2015 to December 2018 were identified and included. There were no exclusion criteria. EXPOSURE The exposure of interest was tonsillectomy. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Outcomes and variables of interest were defined prior to data collection. The primary outcome of this study was emergency department (ED) utilization defined as any ED or urgent care visit within 21 days of the tonsillectomy for surgery-related concerns. The secondary outcome of this study was readmissions following tonsillectomy. RESULTS A total of 10215 pediatric patients (median age, 6 years; 5096 [50 %] male) who underwent tonsillectomy were included in the analysis. 13 % of patients presented to the ED with surgery-related complaints. Among English proficient patients, multi-racial patients were the only group with an elevated odds of ED utilization (OR:1.5, 95 % CI: 1.2, 1.9). Non-English language preference (NELP) patients of Black, Hispanic, Asian, and American Indian/Alaskan Native race/ethnicity also had elevated odds of ED use post-tonsillectomy compared to non-Hispanic White English proficient patients. Six percent of all patients had an unplanned hospital readmission. Asian patients with non-English language preference had 2.1 times the odds of readmission (95 % CI: 1.2, 3.6); and were disproportionately admitted for post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS and Relevance: Language disparities in ED use and readmission persist after adjusting for risk factors. Non-English language preference populations have a higher rate of ED utilization, especially for minor complications. Disparities may result from differential health literacy or predispositions to complications. Future directions include additional research on mechanisms and targeted interventions to increase education and access to language-appropriate resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Wentzel
- Medical Student Research Program, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Aaron Craft
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Amanda Onwuka
- Center for Surgical Outcomes Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Meredith Lind
- Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
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Gill ZS, Marin AI, Caldwell AS, Mehta N, Grove N, Seibold LK, Puente MA, De Carlo Forest TE, Oliver SCN, Patnaik JL, Manoharan N. Limited English Proficiency Is Associated With Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients Presenting for Cataract Surgery. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2023; 12:4. [PMID: 37796496 PMCID: PMC10561792 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.12.10.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose To investigate the relationship between limited English proficiency (LEP) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients presenting for cataract surgery. Methods This is a retrospective observational study of patients who underwent cataract surgery between January 2014 and February 2020. Patients who self-identified as needing or preferring an interpreter were defined as having LEP. Differences in demographics, characteristics, and outcomes including history of type 2 diabetes (T2DM), DR, preoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), macular edema, and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections were analyzed. Statistical comparisons were assessed using logistic regression with generalized estimating equations. Results We included 13,590 eyes. Of these, 868 (6.4%) were from LEP patients. Patients with LEP were more likely to be Hispanic (P < 0.001), female sex (P = 0.008), or older age (P = 0.003) and have worse mean BCVA at presentation (P < 0.001). Patients with LEP had a significantly higher rate of T2DM (P < 0.001), macular edema (P = 0.033), and DR (18.1% vs. 5.8%, P < 0.001). Findings remained significant when controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and type of health insurance. Patients with LEP and DR were more likely to have had later stages of DR (P = 0.023). Conclusions Patients with LEP presenting for cataract surgery had a higher rate of DR and associated complications compared to patients with English proficiency. Further studies are needed to understand how language disparities influence health and what measures could be taken to improve healthcare in this vulnerable population. Translational Relevance Our study highlights healthcare disparities within ophthalmology and emphasizes the importance of advocating for improved healthcare delivery for patients with LEP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zafar S. Gill
- Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - A. Itzam Marin
- Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Anne Strong Caldwell
- Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nihaal Mehta
- Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nathan Grove
- Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Leonard K. Seibold
- Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Michael A. Puente
- Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | - Scott C. N. Oliver
- Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jennifer L. Patnaik
- Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Niranjan Manoharan
- Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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6
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So RJ, Franks Z, Espahbodi M, Ryan MA, Jenks C, Walsh J. Clinical Presentation of Pediatric Recurrent Croup: Implications for Diagnosis. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 2023; 62:871-878. [PMID: 37550866 DOI: 10.1177/00099228221150691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Recurrent croup is a common clinical entity afflicting the pediatric population, but is not well-characterized in the literature. We describe the largest series of recurrent croup in North America from a single tertiary care academic center, and differentiate subpopulations based on demographic characteristics and clinical presentation. We identified 114 patients for inclusion. Common symptoms included barky cough (86.0%) and inspiratory stridor (60.5%). Many (26.3%) experienced full symptom resolution within a day, and 41.2% reported onset of symptoms at any time of the day. Male patients had a higher number of prior croup episodes at presentation compared with female patients (mean of 9.8 ± 8.0 in males vs 6.6 ± 4.8 in females, P = .03). On multivariate regression, racial/ethnic minority patients were at higher risk for dyspnea (odds ratio [OR]: 58.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.2-475.4) and upper respiratory infection prodrome (OR: 7.6; 95% CI: 1.6-35.3) compared with non-Hispanic white patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond J So
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Zechariah Franks
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mana Espahbodi
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Marisa A Ryan
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Carolyn Jenks
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jonathan Walsh
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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7
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Müller F, Schröder D, Schäning J, Schmid S, Noack EM. Lost in translation? Information quality in pediatric pre-hospital medical emergencies with a language barrier in Germany. BMC Pediatr 2023; 23:312. [PMID: 37344777 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-023-04121-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In pediatric medical emergencies, paramedics and emergency physicians must often rely on the information of third parties, often caregivers, to gather information. Failing to obtain relevant information may lead to misinterpretation of symptoms and subsequent errors in decision making and clinical treatment. Thus, children and/or caregivers with limited proficiency of the locally spoken language may be at risk for medical errors. This study analyzes logs of rescue missions to determine whether paramedics could obtain essential information from German-speaking and foreign-language children and their caregivers. METHODS We conducted a secondary data analysis based on retrospective data on pediatric patients of four emergency medical services (EMS) stations in Northern Germany. We defined language discordance with communication difficulties as main exposure. We used documentation quality as outcome defined as existing information on (a) pre-existing conditions, (b) current medication, and (c) events prior to the medical emergency. Statistical analyses include descriptive statistics, simple regression and multivariable regression. As multivariable regression model, a logistic regression was applied with documentation quality as dependent variable and language discordance with communication difficulties as independent variable adjusted for age, sex and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). RESULTS Data from 1,430 pediatric rescue missions were analyzed with 3.1% (n = 45) having a language discordance with communication difficulties. Patients in the pediatric foreign-language group were younger compared to German-speaking patients. Thorough documentation was more frequent in German-speaking patients than in patients in the foreign-language group. Pre-existing conditions and events prior to the medical emergency were considerably more often documented in German-speaking than for foreign-language patients. Documentation of medication did not differ between these groups. The adjustment of sex, age and GCS in the multivariable analysis did not change the results. CONCLUSION Language barriers are hindering paramedics to obtain relevant information in pediatric pre-hospital emergencies. This jeopardizes the safe provision of paramedic care to children who themselves or their caregivers are not fluent in German language. Further research should focus on feasible ways to overcome language barriers in pre-hospital emergencies. TRIAL REGISTRATION This is a retrospective secondary data analysis of a study that was registered at the German Clinical Trials Register (No. DRKS00016719), 08/02/2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Müller
- Department of General Practice, University Medical Center Göttingen, Humboldtallee 38, 37073, Göttingen, DE, Germany.
| | - Dominik Schröder
- Department of General Practice, University Medical Center Göttingen, Humboldtallee 38, 37073, Göttingen, DE, Germany
| | - Jennifer Schäning
- Department of General Practice, University Medical Center Göttingen, Humboldtallee 38, 37073, Göttingen, DE, Germany
| | - Sybille Schmid
- Fire Department, City of Braunschweig, Brunswick, DE, Germany
| | - Eva Maria Noack
- Department of General Practice, University Medical Center Göttingen, Humboldtallee 38, 37073, Göttingen, DE, Germany
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Jones KC, Austad K, Silver S, Cordova-Ramos EG, Fantasia KL, Perez DC, Kremer K, Wilson S, Walkey A, Drainoni ML. Patient Perspectives of the Hospital Discharge Process: A Qualitative Study. J Patient Exp 2023; 10:23743735231171564. [PMID: 37151607 PMCID: PMC10159238 DOI: 10.1177/23743735231171564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Care transitions after hospitalization require communication across care teams, patients, and caregivers. As part of a quality improvement initiative, we conducted qualitative interviews with a diverse group of 53 patients who were recently discharged from a hospitalization within a safety net hospital to explore how patient preferences were included in the hospital discharge process and differences in the hospital discharge experience by race/ethnicity. Four themes emerged from participants regarding desired characteristics of interactions with the discharge team: (1) to feel heard, (2) inclusion in decision-making, (3) to be adequately prepared to care for themselves at home through bedside teaching, (4) and to have a clear and updated discharge timeline. Additionally, participants identified patient-level factors the discharge planning team should consider, including the social context, family involvement, health literacy, and linguistic barriers. Lastly, participants identified provider characteristics, such as a caring and empathetic bedside manner, that they found valuable in the discharge process. Our findings highlight the need for shared decision-making in the discharge planning process to improve both patient safety and satisfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla C Jones
- Evans Center for Implementation &
Improvement Sciences (CIIS), Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian
& Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kirsten Austad
- Evans Center for Implementation &
Improvement Sciences (CIIS), Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian
& Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Family Medicine, Boston
University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Santana Silver
- Evans Center for Implementation &
Improvement Sciences (CIIS), Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian
& Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Erika G Cordova-Ramos
- Evans Center for Implementation &
Improvement Sciences (CIIS), Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian
& Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Evans Center for Implementation & Improvement Sciences
(CIIS), Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA,
USA
| | - Kathryn L Fantasia
- Evans Center for Implementation &
Improvement Sciences (CIIS), Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian
& Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and
Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian
School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daisy C Perez
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kristen Kremer
- Department of Ambulatory Operations, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sophie Wilson
- Department of Quality and Patient Safety,
Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Allan Walkey
- Evans Center for Implementation &
Improvement Sciences (CIIS), Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian
& Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Section of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical
Care and Sleep, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian
School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mari-Lynn Drainoni
- Evans Center for Implementation &
Improvement Sciences (CIIS), Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian
& Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Section of Infectious Diseases,
Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of
Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Health Law Policy &
Management, Boston University School of Public
Health, Boston, MA, USA
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9
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Johnson RF, Beams DR, Zaniletti I, Chorney SR, Kou YF, Lenes-Voit F, Ulualp S, Liu C, Mitchell RB. Estimated Probability Distribution of Bleeding After Pediatric Tonsillectomy: A Retrospective National Cohort Study of US Children. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2023; 149:431-438. [PMID: 36995688 PMCID: PMC10064285 DOI: 10.1001/jamaoto.2023.0268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Importance The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation has recommended yearly surgeon self-monitoring of posttonsillectomy bleeding rates. However, the predicted distribution of rates to guide this monitoring remain unexplored. Objective To use a national cohort of children to estimate the probability of bleeding after pediatric tonsillectomy to guide surgeons in self-monitoring of this event. Design, Settings, and Participants This retrospective cohort study used data from the Pediatric Health Information System for all pediatric (<18 years old) patients who underwent tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy in a children's hospital in the US from January 1, 2016, through August 31, 2021, and were discharged home. Predicted probabilities of return visits for bleeding within 30 days were calculated to estimate quantiles for bleeding rates. A secondary analysis included logistic regression of bleeding risk by demographic characteristics and associated conditions. Data analyses were conducted from August 7, 2022 to January 28, 2023. Main Outcomes and Measures Revisits to the emergency department or hospital (inpatient/observation) for bleeding (primary/secondary diagnosis) within 30 days after index discharge after tonsillectomy. Results Of the 96 415 children (mean [SD] age, 5.3 [3.9] years; 41 284 [42.8%] female; 46 954 [48.7%] non-Hispanic White individuals) who had undergone tonsillectomy, 2100 (2.18%) returned to the emergency department or hospital with postoperative bleeding. The predicted 5th, 50th, and 95th quantiles for bleeding were 1.17%, 1.97%, and 4.75%, respectively. Variables associated with bleeding after tonsillectomy were Hispanic ethnicity (OR, 1.19; 99% CI, 1.01-1.40), very high residential Opportunity Index (OR, 1.28; 99% CI, 1.05-1.56), gastrointestinal disease (OR, 1.33; 99% CI, 1.01-1.77), obstructive sleep apnea (OR, 0.85; 99% CI, 0.75-0.96), obesity (OR,1.24; 99% CI, 1.04-1.48), and being more than 12 years old (OR, 2.48; 99% CI, 2.12-2.91). The adjusted 99th percentile for bleeding after tonsillectomy was approximately 6.39%. Conclusions and Relevance This retrospective national cohort study predicted 50th and 95th percentiles for posttonsillectomy bleeding of 1.97% and 4.75%. This probability model may be a useful tool for future quality initiatives and surgeons who are self-monitoring bleeding rates after pediatric tonsillectomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romaine F. Johnson
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
- Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children’s Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Dylan R. Beams
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
| | | | - Stephen R. Chorney
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
- Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children’s Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Yann-Fuu Kou
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
- Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children’s Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Felicity Lenes-Voit
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
- Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children’s Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Seckin Ulualp
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
- Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children’s Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Christopher Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
- Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children’s Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Ron B. Mitchell
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
- Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children’s Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
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10
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Evola CM, Repas SJ, Dickman J, George M, Viaud-Murat E, Hershberger P, Crawford TN, Conway K. Perceptions of the SARS-CoV2 pandemic: a small comparative survey analysis between language preference populations in a United States community health center. Pathog Glob Health 2023; 117:203-211. [PMID: 35712873 PMCID: PMC9970218 DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2022.2088500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2019, a new variant of coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) created a global pandemic that has highlighted and exacerbated health disparities. Educating the general public about COVID-19 is one of the primary mitigation strategies amongst health professionals. English is not the preferred language for an estimated 22% of the United States population making effective mass communication efforts difficult to achieve. This study seeks to understand and compare several topics surrounding COVID-19 health communication and healthcare disparities between individuals with English language preference (ELP) and non-English language preference (NELP) within the United States. A survey available in seven languages asking about knowledge and opinions on COVID-19, vaccines, preferred sources of health information, and other questions, was administered February-April 2021 to patients at an urban federally qualified health center that also serves global refugees and immigrants. Descriptive statistics and comparative analysis were performed to identify differences between ELP and NELP individuals. Analysis of 144 surveys, 33 of which were NELP, showed 90.97% of all patients agreed that COVID-19 was a serious disease and 66.67% would receive the COVID-19 vaccine. There were numerous differences between ELP and NELP individuals, including trust in government, symptom identification, preferred source of health information, and feelings that cultural needs had been met. This study has identified several significant differences in patient perceptions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic when comparing NELP to ELP and highlighted areas where improvement can occur. Applying this information, easily utilized targeted resources can be created to quickly intervene and address health disparities among patients seeking care at an urban community health center.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Evola
- Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Steven J Repas
- Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Jacob Dickman
- Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Monica George
- Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Estelle Viaud-Murat
- Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Paul Hershberger
- Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Timothy N Crawford
- Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, United States of America
| | - Katharine Conway
- Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, United States of America
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11
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Luan-Erfe BM, Erfe JM, DeCaria B, Okocha O. Limited English Proficiency and Perioperative Patient-Centered Outcomes: A Systematic Review. Anesth Analg 2022; 136:1096-1106. [PMID: 36066429 DOI: 10.1213/ane.0000000000006159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
This systematic review assesses whether limited-English proficiency (LEP) increases risk of having poor perioperative care and outcomes. This review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 99 articles were identified in Embase and PubMed and screened by 2 independent reviewers. Ten studies, which included 3 prospective cohort studies, 6 retrospective cohort studies, and 1 cross-sectional study, met inclusion and exclusion criteria. All studies were of high-quality rating according to the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Subsequently, the Levels of Evidence Rating Scale for Prognostic/Risk Studies and Grade Practice Recommendations from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons were used to assess the quality of evidence of each study and the strength of the body of evidence, respectively. There is strong evidence that professional medical interpreter (PMI) use or having a language-concordant provider for LEP patients improves understanding of the procedural consent. The evidence also highly suggests that LEP patients are at risk of poorer postoperative pain control and poorer understanding of discharge instructions compared with English-speaking patients. Further studies are needed to discern whether consistent PMI use can minimize the disparities in pain control and discharge planning between LEP and English-proficient (EP) patients. There is some evidence that LEP status is not associated with differences in having adequate access to and receiving surgical preoperative evaluation. However, the evidence is weak given the small number of studies available. There are currently no studies on whether LEP status impacts access to preoperative evaluation by an anesthesiology-led team to optimize the patient for surgery. There is some evidence to suggest that LEP patients, especially when PMI services are not used consistently, are at risk for increased length of stay, more complications, and worse clinical outcomes. The available outcomes research is limited by the relative infrequency of complications. Additionally, only 4 studies validated whether LEP patients utilized a PMI. Future studies should use larger sample sizes and ascertain whether LEP patients utilized a PMI, and the effect of PMI use on outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betty M Luan-Erfe
- From the Department of Anesthesiology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
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12
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Garza N, Chorney SR, Kou YF, Johnson RF. Impact of Language and Ethnicity on Pediatric Tracheostomy Outcomes. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2022; 166:1038-1044. [PMID: 35077244 DOI: 10.1177/01945998211071020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare outcomes after tracheostomy between children from Spanish- and English-speaking families. STUDY DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Tertiary care children's hospital. METHODS All children <18 years of age who had a tracheostomy placed between 2014 and 2020 were included. Comorbidities and postsurgical outcomes were compared between (1) children whose families preferred speaking Spanish or identified as Hispanic/Latino and (2) children from English-language or non-Hispanic families. RESULTS A total of 339 children met inclusion, with 11% (37/339) from families identifying Spanish as their primary language and 33% (112/339) identifying as Hispanic. Spanish-speaking families were more likely to have tracheostomy-dependent children with cardiac conditions (65% vs 42%, P = .008) and high complexity (72% vs 49%, P = .007). Outcomes were similar regardless of language preference, with 45% (153/339) still tracheostomy dependent, 28% (94/339) decannulated, and 6.8% (23/339) deceased at a median follow-up of 1.77 years (interquartile range, 0.65-3.43). Severe neurocognitive disabilities were similar between Spanish- and English-language families (P > .05). Spanish language was not associated with times to decannulation or death in univariate or multiple regression models. A sensitivity analysis of self-identified Hispanic or Latino patients did not show significant differences for time to decannulation, death, or neurocognitive disability rates (P > .05). CONCLUSION Spanish language and Hispanic ethnicity appear to have minimal impact on pediatric tracheostomy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Garza
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Stephen R Chorney
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.,Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children's Medical Center Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Yann-Fuu Kou
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.,Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children's Medical Center Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Romaine F Johnson
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.,Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children's Medical Center Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA
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