Clinical Spanish use and language proficiency testing among pediatric residents.

MedStar author(s):
Citation: Academic Medicine. 88(10):1478-84, 2013 Oct.PMID: 23969350Institution: MedStar Franklin Square Medical CenterDepartment: PediatricsForm of publication: Journal ArticleMedline article type(s): Journal Article | Multicenter Study | Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tSubject headings: *Communication Barriers | *Hispanic Americans | *Internship and Residency | *Multilingualism | *Pediatrics | Adult | Cross-Sectional Studies | Female | Humans | Language Tests | Male | Self-Assessment | Surveys and QuestionnairesYear: 2013Local holdings: Available online from MWHC library: 2000 - present, Available in print through MWHC library: 1997 - 2006ISSN:
  • 1040-2446
Name of journal: Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical CollegesAbstract: CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of level of Spanish proficiency, pediatric residents provide clinical care to patients in Spanish. Self-reported Spanish proficiency does not reliably predict tested ability, especially when using stringent criteria to define proficiency. Provider language "credentialing" is an important step in implementing a policy to improve care for limited English proficiency patients.METHOD: In 2010, the authors e-mailed a survey to all 247 pediatric residents at three institutions, inviting those with any level of Spanish language ability to participate. Participants completed a survey reporting Spanish proficiency, interpreter use, and comfort using Spanish in a range of clinical scenarios. Clinical scenarios were grouped and analyzed by degree of complexity. Self-reported Spanish proficiency was compared with tested proficiency, as measured by a 20-minute telephone assessment of general language ability. Scores were categorized as "not proficient," "proficient," and "highly proficient."PURPOSE: To describe patterns of clinical Spanish use by pediatric residents, and to compare self-assessment of language proficiency against an objective language test.RESULTS: Of the 247 residents, 78 (32%) participated, self-reporting a range of Spanish skills; 23% of those reported spoken proficiency ("proficient" or "fluent"). Participants at all levels of proficiency reported using Spanish without interpretation, including 63% of those who were not proficient. The majority (56%) of nonproficient residents reported comfort using Spanish in straightforward clinical scenarios, and 10% reported comfort in clinical scenarios with legal implications. Self-reported proficiency had a positive predictive value of 67% for testing at a proficient level and 22% for testing at a highly proficient level.All authors: Cowden JD, Ebel BE, Fernandez J, Hamdy RF, Killough EF, Lion KC, Michel E, Rafton SA, Thompson DAFiscal year: FY2014Digital Object Identifier: Date added to catalog: 2016-07-15
Holdings
Item type Current library Collection Call number Status Date due Barcode
Journal Article MedStar Authors Catalog Article 23969350 Available 23969350

Available online from MWHC library: 2000 - present, Available in print through MWHC library: 1997 - 2006

CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of level of Spanish proficiency, pediatric residents provide clinical care to patients in Spanish. Self-reported Spanish proficiency does not reliably predict tested ability, especially when using stringent criteria to define proficiency. Provider language "credentialing" is an important step in implementing a policy to improve care for limited English proficiency patients.

METHOD: In 2010, the authors e-mailed a survey to all 247 pediatric residents at three institutions, inviting those with any level of Spanish language ability to participate. Participants completed a survey reporting Spanish proficiency, interpreter use, and comfort using Spanish in a range of clinical scenarios. Clinical scenarios were grouped and analyzed by degree of complexity. Self-reported Spanish proficiency was compared with tested proficiency, as measured by a 20-minute telephone assessment of general language ability. Scores were categorized as "not proficient," "proficient," and "highly proficient."

PURPOSE: To describe patterns of clinical Spanish use by pediatric residents, and to compare self-assessment of language proficiency against an objective language test.

RESULTS: Of the 247 residents, 78 (32%) participated, self-reporting a range of Spanish skills; 23% of those reported spoken proficiency ("proficient" or "fluent"). Participants at all levels of proficiency reported using Spanish without interpretation, including 63% of those who were not proficient. The majority (56%) of nonproficient residents reported comfort using Spanish in straightforward clinical scenarios, and 10% reported comfort in clinical scenarios with legal implications. Self-reported proficiency had a positive predictive value of 67% for testing at a proficient level and 22% for testing at a highly proficient level.

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