Rural Kansas Family Physician Satisfaction with Caring for Spanish-Speaking Only Patients.

Area of Science:

• Medical Practice
• Physician Wellness
• Cross-Cultural Healthcare

Background:

• Patient satisfaction is affected by physician-patient language barriers.
• Limited research exists on language barriers' impact on physician satisfaction and wellness.
• This study investigates language barriers and professional dissatisfaction among rural family physicians.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if language barriers contribute to professional dissatisfaction in rural family medicine physicians.
• To assess the relationship between physician-patient language barriers and physician satisfaction.
• To understand the impact on physician wellness in underserved areas.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional survey of Kansas Academy of Family Physicians in rural areas with high Hispanic populations.
• Questionnaire assessed physician demographics, practice details, and patient language profiles.
• Physicians reported Spanish-speaking ability, interpreter availability, and satisfaction with Spanish-speaking only (SSO) patient care.

Main Results:

• 34% response rate from 52 identified physicians.
• Most practices had >25% Hispanic patients, but few had >25% Spanish-speaking only (SSO) patients.
• Certified interpreters were used in <25% of SSO patient encounters; most physicians reported good relationships and satisfaction with care provided, yet language barriers impacted relationships and professional satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Language barriers negatively affect physician-patient relationships with SSO patients.
• These barriers lead to decreased physician satisfaction with provided care.
• Professional satisfaction is also negatively impacted by language barriers in rural family medicine.