Highlights
- •Patients with limited English less likely to be discharged to post-acute care.
- •Limited English proficiency was not associated with longer length of stay.
- •Limited English proficiency was not correlated with 30-day readmission.
- •Patients with limited English proficiency may have less access to rehabilitation.
Abstract
Background
Outcomes for surgical patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) may be worse
compared to patients with English proficiency. We sought to evaluate the association
of LEP with outcomes for trauma patients.
Methods
Admitted adult patients on trauma service at two Level One trauma centers from 2015
to 2019 were identified.
Results
12,562 patients were included in total; 7.3% had LEP. On multivariable analyses, patients
with LEP had lower odds of discharge to post-acute care versus home compared to patients
with English proficiency (OR 0.69; 95% CI 0.58–0.83; p < 0.001) but had similar length
of stay (Beta coefficient 1.16; 95% CI 0.00–2.32; p = 0.05), and 30-day readmission
(OR 1.08; 95% CI 0.87–1.35; p = 0.46).
Conclusions
Trauma patients with LEP had comparable short-term outcomes to English proficient
patients but were less likely to be discharged to post-acute care facilities. The
role of structural barriers, family preferences, and other factors merit future investigation.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 18, 2022
Accepted:
October 15,
2022
Received in revised form:
October 11,
2022
Received:
August 19,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
