The Role of Language-Concordant Resources in the Development of Health Literacy within the Hispanic Population in Western Kentucky, USA
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Spanish
Minor
Occupational Safety and Health
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Martin Kane
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
BACKGROUND:Language barriers are one of the most consequential obstacles that patients and providers face when seeking effective health care. Whether Western Kentucky has accounted for the linguistic and cultural differences of the Hispanic patient is largely unknown.
OBJECTIVE:To assess the availability and use of language-concordant resources for Hispanic patients in Western Kentucky (United States).
DESIGN:We elicited responses to a voluntary survey from approximately 20 Hispanics in the Western Kentucky region (Hartford, KY, Owensboro, KY, Madisonville, KY). Self-identified, Hispanic individuals, 18 years or older were eligible to complete the survey. The survey focused on reported access to language-concordant medical resources such as providers, interpreters, and educational pamphlets as well as patients’ overall satisfaction with health care. Other factors such as age, immigration status, time in the United States, and self-reported English language proficiency were recorded.
RESULTS:I will discuss patients’ satisfaction with health care and language-concordant resources offered to them in Western Kentucky. To further my analysis, I will look for a trend that relates the period of time that the patient has lived in the United States and his or her satisfaction with the health care received. Lastly, based on participants’ responses, I will compare the relative usefulness of on-site interpreters to over-the-phone interpreters, office staff, and family members.
CONCLUSIONS: I will reassess my hypothesis based on survey results and then recognize areas that could benefit from further research.
Spring Scholars Week 2019 Event
GLT/Modern Languages Senior Colloquium
The Role of Language-Concordant Resources in the Development of Health Literacy within the Hispanic Population in Western Kentucky, USA
BACKGROUND:Language barriers are one of the most consequential obstacles that patients and providers face when seeking effective health care. Whether Western Kentucky has accounted for the linguistic and cultural differences of the Hispanic patient is largely unknown.
OBJECTIVE:To assess the availability and use of language-concordant resources for Hispanic patients in Western Kentucky (United States).
DESIGN:We elicited responses to a voluntary survey from approximately 20 Hispanics in the Western Kentucky region (Hartford, KY, Owensboro, KY, Madisonville, KY). Self-identified, Hispanic individuals, 18 years or older were eligible to complete the survey. The survey focused on reported access to language-concordant medical resources such as providers, interpreters, and educational pamphlets as well as patients’ overall satisfaction with health care. Other factors such as age, immigration status, time in the United States, and self-reported English language proficiency were recorded.
RESULTS:I will discuss patients’ satisfaction with health care and language-concordant resources offered to them in Western Kentucky. To further my analysis, I will look for a trend that relates the period of time that the patient has lived in the United States and his or her satisfaction with the health care received. Lastly, based on participants’ responses, I will compare the relative usefulness of on-site interpreters to over-the-phone interpreters, office staff, and family members.
CONCLUSIONS: I will reassess my hypothesis based on survey results and then recognize areas that could benefit from further research.