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.
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 cancerpatients. 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 cancerpatients. 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 cancerpatients 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.
Authors: Mónica E López; Celia P Kaplan; Anna M Nápoles; E Shelley Hwang; Jennifer C Livaudais; Leah S Karliner Journal: Patient Educ Couns Date: 2013-09-17
Authors: Celia Patricia Kaplan; Leah S Karliner; E Shelley Hwang; Joan Bloom; Susan Stewart; Dana Nickleach; Jessica Quinn; Angela Thrasher; Anna Maria Nápoles Journal: Breast Cancer Res Treat Date: 2011-04-28 Impact factor: 4.872
Authors: Jennifer C Livaudais; E Shelley Hwang; Leah Karliner; Anna Nápoles; Susan Stewart; Joan Bloom; Celia P Kaplan Journal: J Womens Health (Larchmt) Date: 2011-09-08 Impact factor: 2.681
Authors: Elyse R Park; Jan E Mutchler; Giselle Perez; Roberta E Goldman; Halsey Niles; Vivian Haime; Cheyenne Fox Tree-McGrath; Mai See Yang; Daniel Woolridge; July Suarez; Karen Donelan; William F Pirl Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2016-05-16 Impact factor: 3.894