Terceira A. Berdahl|James B. Kirby
Patient-Provider Communication Disparities by Limited English Proficiency (LEP): Trends from the US Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2006–2015
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality|Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
individuals limited english proficiency lep worse healthcare access report lower quality care compared individuals proficient english policy efforts improve patientprovider communication lep individuals going decades linguistic disparities persist describe trends patientprovider communication limited english proficiency lep 2006 2015 estimated interrupted time series models three measures patientprovider communication testing differences means intercepts trends slopes 2010 differences differences english proficiency nationally representative sample us noninstitutionalized population least one officebased medical visit 20062015 medical expenditure panel survey n 27001 patientprovider communication measured three variables indicating whether individuals reported providers always explained things way easy understand showed respect say listened carefully although patientprovider communication improved groups study period 2010 getting worse among lep individuals disparities patientprovider communication widening 2010 patientprovider communication improved lep individuals language disparities english proficiency either narrowed remained example 2006 2010 percent lep individuals reporting provider explained things clearly declined average 14 percentage points per year p value 0102 2010 increased 30 percentage points per year p value 0003 study sheds light trends patientprovider communication 2010 year marked substantial efforts reform us healthcare system though patientprovider communication among lep individuals improved since 2010 linguistic disparities persist constitute formidable challenge achieving healthcare equity longstanding us policy goal