The Use and Impact of Professional Interpretation in a Pediatric Emergency Department.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objective

Patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) experience worse health care outcomes compared to English proficient (EP) patients, and professional interpretation is underutilized in clinical settings. The objectives of this study were to describe patterns of interpreter use in a pediatric emergency department (ED), to determine factors associated with its use, and to examine differences in outcomes between EP families and those with LEP.

Methods

ED encounters for LEP and EP patients were reviewed in a retrospective cohort study design over a 15 month period. Generalized estimating equations were used to compare patient encounters and factors associated with interpreter use.

Results

Interpreter use for families who preferred a non-English lan

SUBMITTER: Hartford EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6855248 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov - Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature