Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 1, 2026
06:05
The Participant-Reported Implementation Update and Score PRIUS: A Novel Method for Capturing Implementation-Related Data Over Time
Published on: February 19, 2021
1.8K
Identifying and Addressing Language Needs in Primary Care: a Pilot Implementation Study
Jessica E Murphy1, David Washington2,3, Ziming Xuan4
1Section of General Internal Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 245 Chapman Street, Suite 300, Providence, RI, 02905, USA. jessica_murphy1@brown.edu.
Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities
|December 5, 2018
Summary
Protocols for medical interpreter use in primary care can enhance patient communication and satisfaction for those with Limited English Proficiency. However, inconsistent implementation highlights the need for further research and tailored support for healthcare teams.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare access and disparities
- Health services research
- Communication in healthcare
Background:
- Medical interpreters are crucial for patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) but are underutilized in primary care settings.
- There is a need for effective protocols to increase the use of medical interpreters in primary care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a protocol for improving medical interpreter use in primary care.
- To identify barriers and facilitators to implementing interpreter services.
Main Methods:
- A protocol involving Medical Assistants (MAs) screening for language needs and arranging telephone interpreters was implemented in two pilot clinics.
- Qualitative interviews with MAs and providers were analyzed using modified grounded theory, linked to the PARiHS framework.
- Providers in pilot and comparison clinics were surveyed.
Main Results:
- Key themes included challenges with interpreter vendors, established team dynamics, and integrating time-sensitive tasks.
- Provider satisfaction with care (OR=12.7) and communication (OR=7.6) was significantly higher in pilot clinics compared to comparison clinics.
- Mixed responses to the protocol were observed, with a preference for in-person interpreters noted.
Conclusions:
- The protocol shows potential for improving patient care and communication, but implementation challenges persist.
- Language screening is complex, requiring further refinement of questions and procedures.
- Future interventions must consider health system changes, team dynamics, and staff training needs.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Language
913
Language is a unique communication system that uses words and systematic rules to organize and transmit information. Unlike other forms of communication, which may involve postures, movements, odors, or vocalizations, language relies on symbols and grammar. This makes human communication distinct from that of other species, who also communicate but do not use language in the same way humans do.
Corballis and Suddendorf (2007) and Tomasello and Rakoczy (2003) highlight the role of language in...
Corballis and Suddendorf (2007) and Tomasello and Rakoczy (2003) highlight the role of language in...
913
01:21Pilot and Numeric Relaying
496
Pilot relaying is a type of differential protection used in power systems. It compares electrical quantities at the terminals of equipment via a communication channel instead of direct relay interconnection. This method is essential for transmission lines where the terminals are far apart, typically up to 80 km for lines with 69 to 115 kV ratings. Four types of communication channels are used for pilot relaying:
496
01:25Strategies for Assessing and Addressing Confounding
399
Confounding is a critical issue in epidemiological studies, often leading to misleading conclusions about associations between exposures and outcomes. It occurs when the relationship between the exposure and the outcome is mixed with the effects of other factors that influence the outcome. Given that, addressing confounding is of high importance for drawing accurate inferences in research.
Confounding can be addressed at both the design phase of a study and through analytical methods after data...
Confounding can be addressed at both the design phase of a study and through analytical methods after data...
399
01:24Components of Language
823
Language, whether spoken, signed, or written, consists of specific components: lexicon and grammar. The lexicon is the vocabulary of a language, comprising its words. Grammar is the set of rules used to convey meaning through the lexicon. For example, English grammar adds “-ed” to most verbs to indicate past tense. Words are formed by combining phonemes, which are the basic sound units of a language. Different languages have different sets of phonemes (e.g., “ah” vs.
823
01:22Language Development
913
Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
913
01:27Language and Cognition
799
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
799