title: Spanish-Speaking Limited English Proficiency Patients and Call Light Use.
abstract: Despite a continuous increase of the limited English proficiency (LEP) population in the United States, disparities in the quality of care received in health care systems persist.
  
  
  
  This qualitative study explores the perceptions of hospitalized LEP patients on their call light use, as well as their perceptions of a prototype of a new multilingual call light system, Eloquence™. Individual interviews were conducted with 10 Spanish-speaking patient participants.
  
  
  
  Using a constant comparative method, the following themes emerged: (1) reasons for call light use, (2) challenges with communication, (3) patients' adaptation to language barriers, (4) perceived staff responses to call light, and (5) responses to the Eloquence™ demonstration.
  
  
  
  Data from this study shed light on the patient care experience of LEP patients and can help guide clinicians and administrators in providing culturally and linguistically competent care.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA mmontie@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montie
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Jose Gabriel
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Galinato
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Lance
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Patak
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Marita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Titler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D003142:Communication; D003144:Communication Barriers; D032882:Comprehension; D054521:Cultural Competency; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D019303:Multilingualism; D009726:Nurses; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013672:Technology; D014175:Translating; D014481:United States; D014825:Vocabulary
keywords: call light systems; limited English proficiency patients; linguistically competent care; nurse communication; patient communication