Joshua H. Sarver|David W. Baker
Effect of language barriers on follow-up appointments after an emergency department visit
Case Western Reserve University|University School|MetroHealth Medical Center|Case Western Reserve University
determine whether patients encountered language barriers emergency department visit less likely referred followup appointment less likely complete recommended appointmentcohort studypublic hospital emergency departmentenglish spanishspeaking patients n 714 presenting nonemergent medical problemspatients interviewed determine sociodemographic information health status whether interpreter used whether interpreter used dependent variables referral followup appointment emergency department visit appointment compliance determined chart review hospital information system proportion patients received followup appointment 83 without language barriers 75 communicated interpreter 76 said interpreter used p 05 multivariate analysis adjusted odds ratio receiving followup appointment 192 95 confidence interval ci 111 333 patients interpreter 179 95 ci 100 323 patients said interpreter used compared patients without language barriers appointment compliance rates similar patients communicated interpreter said interpreter used without language barriers 60 54 64 respectively p 78language barriers may decrease likelihood patient given followup appointment emergency department visit however patients experienced language barriers equally likely comply followup appointments