Language and parental satisfaction during inpatient stay: A pilot survey study in a quaternary pediatric hospital

Considering the significant volume of non-English speakers seeking medical care in the United States and the challenges they may encounter within the hospital environment, it is necessary to assess the satisfaction of non-English-speaking families during their hospital stays and to determine potential areas of improvement in order to optimize care.

We aimed to evaluate and describe the satisfaction of Arabic-, Spanish-, and English-speaking families at a quaternary pediatric hospital. From the measures assessed, we sought to identify perceived strengths and weaknesses of the inpatient experience for families who spoke different languages. In doing so, we aimed to identify ways to improve the hospital experience for patients and their families.

We created a 23-item satisfaction questionnaire that was vetted by the hospital's Global Services Department, professionally translated into Arabic and Spanish, and tested by native speakers. The survey contained questions pertaining to parent/guardian demographics, their experience with the hospital environment, and their care team or services. Using the questionnaire, we surveyed Arabic-, Spanish-, and English-speaking parents/guardians of post-procedural patients under 18 years of age in intensive care units (ICUs) and on inpatient floors.

A total of 162 surveys were collected with roughly equal distribution across the three language groups (52 Arabic, 53 Spanish, 57 English). We found no statistically significant difference in satisfaction scores across the three language groups, nor across self-reported English-proficient and non-English-proficient Arabic and Spanish respondents. In addition, there was no statistically significant difference in satisfaction between parents/guardians in ICUs and those on inpatient floors.

This pilot survey suggests that inclusivity and availability of interpretation resources play a role in successfully creating an environment where both English and non-English speakers are satisfied. Further development and validation of the survey instrument should be performed, along with testing at other institutions.