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Language barriers and patient-centered breast cancer care.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Karliner, LS; Hwang, ES; Nickleach, D; Kaplan, CP
Published in: Patient Educ Couns
August 2011

OBJECTIVE: Provision of high quality patient-centered care is fundamental to eliminating healthcare disparities in breast cancer. We investigated physicians' experiences communicating with limited English proficient (LEP) breast cancer patients. METHODS: Survey of a random sample of California oncologists and surgeons. RESULTS: Of 301 respondents who reported treating LEP patients, 46% were oncologists, 75% male, 68% in private practice, and on average 33% of their patients had breast cancer. Only 40% reported at least sometimes using professional interpretation services. Although 75% felt they were usually able to communicate effectively with LEP patients, more than half reported difficulty discussing treatment options and prognosis, and 56% acknowledged having less-patient-centered treatment discussions with LEP breast cancer patients. In multivariate analysis, use of professional interpreters was associated with 53% lower odds of reporting less-patient-centered treatment discussions (OR 0.47; 95% CI 0.26-0.85). CONCLUSION: California surgeons and oncologists caring for breast cancer patients report substantial communication challenges when faced with a language barrier. Although use of professional interpreters is associated with more patient-centered communication, there is a low rate of professional interpreter utilization. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Future research and policy should focus on increasing access to and reimbursement for professional interpreter services.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Patient Educ Couns

DOI

EISSN

1873-5134

Publication Date

August 2011

Volume

84

Issue

2

Start / End Page

223 / 228

Location

Ireland

Related Subject Headings

  • Public Health
  • Private Practice
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'
  • Physicians
  • Physician-Patient Relations
  • Patient-Centered Care
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Language
  • Humans
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Karliner, L. S., Hwang, E. S., Nickleach, D., & Kaplan, C. P. (2011). Language barriers and patient-centered breast cancer care. Patient Educ Couns, 84(2), 223–228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2010.07.009
Karliner, Leah S., E Shelley Hwang, Dana Nickleach, and Celia P. Kaplan. “Language barriers and patient-centered breast cancer care.Patient Educ Couns 84, no. 2 (August 2011): 223–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2010.07.009.
Karliner LS, Hwang ES, Nickleach D, Kaplan CP. Language barriers and patient-centered breast cancer care. Patient Educ Couns. 2011 Aug;84(2):223–8.
Karliner, Leah S., et al. “Language barriers and patient-centered breast cancer care.Patient Educ Couns, vol. 84, no. 2, Aug. 2011, pp. 223–28. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.pec.2010.07.009.
Karliner LS, Hwang ES, Nickleach D, Kaplan CP. Language barriers and patient-centered breast cancer care. Patient Educ Couns. 2011 Aug;84(2):223–228.
Journal cover image

Published In

Patient Educ Couns

DOI

EISSN

1873-5134

Publication Date

August 2011

Volume

84

Issue

2

Start / End Page

223 / 228

Location

Ireland

Related Subject Headings

  • Public Health
  • Private Practice
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'
  • Physicians
  • Physician-Patient Relations
  • Patient-Centered Care
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Language
  • Humans