Misidentification of English Language Proficiency in Triage: Impact on Satisfaction and Door-to-Room Time.
We examined triage nurses' assessment of patients' language proficiency compared to patients' self-reported proficiency and the impact of language discordance on door-to-room time and patient satisfaction. This was a prospective study of emergency department walk-in patients. Patients completed a survey in which they identified their language proficiency. On a Likert scale, patients ranked how well they felt they were understood and how satisfied they were with the triage process. Nurses completed surveys identifying the patient's primary language and how well they felt they understood the patient. Door-to-room times were obtained from medical records. 163 patients were enrolled. 66% of patients identified themselves as having good English proficiency, while 34% of patients had limited English proficiency. Nurses misclassified 27% of self-identified Spanish-speaking patients as being English proficient. Spanish-speakers felt less satisfied with triage than English-speakers (p < 0.01). There were no differences in door-to-room time. Triage nurses overestimate patient language skills. Spanish-speaking patients feel less satisfied with triage than English-speakers.
St. Luke's University Hospital, 801 Ostrum St., Bethlehem, PA, 18015, USA.
Vamsi
V
Balakrishnan
St. Luke's University Hospital, 801 Ostrum St., Bethlehem, PA, 18015, USA.
Jamie
J
Roper
St. Luke's University Hospital, 801 Ostrum St., Bethlehem, PA, 18015, USA.
Kori
K
Cossey
St. Luke's University Hospital, 801 Ostrum St., Bethlehem, PA, 18015, USA.
Crystal
C
Roman
St. Luke's University Hospital, 801 Ostrum St., Bethlehem, PA, 18015, USA. rebeccajeanmonod@yahoo.com.
Rebecca
R
Jeanmonod
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003144:Communication Barriers; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods; D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D057566:Self Report; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D061665:Time-to-Treatment; D014177:Translations; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014218:Triage; D014481:United States
Language discordance; Limited English proficiency; Medical translation; Patient satisfaction