Faculty Collaboration Database

Effects of the limited English proficiency of parents on hospital length of stay and home health care referral for their home health care-eligible children with infections. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2011 Sep;165(9):831-6

Date

05/04/2011

Pubmed ID

21536949

DOI

10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.61

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-80052511862 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   45 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship of limited English proficiency of parents to hospital length of stay (LOS) and to home health care referral for their home health care eligible-children with infections.

DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study.

SETTING: Regional urban pediatric hospital.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1257 children aged 0 to 18 years admitted for infection requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment during the period from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2008.

MAIN EXPOSURES: The cohort of patients were defined by primary caregivers who had to report on their English proficiency.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of home health care referrals and LOS.

RESULTS: The median LOS for the study group was 4.1 days (interquartile range, 2.6-7.2 days). Limited English proficiency was associated with longer LOS (adjusted relative LOS, 1.6 [95% confidence interval, 1.1-2.3]), indicating that patients who had caregivers with limited English proficiency stayed 60% longer, on average, than patients with English-proficient primary caregivers. Insurance status (Medicaid), absence of a primary care provider, home health care utilization, and presence of comorbidity were also associated with longer LOS. Limited English proficiency was associated with a significantly decreased number of home health care referrals (odds ratio, 0.2 [95% confidence interval, 0.04-0.8]). Patient insurance (Medicaid) and presence of any comorbidity were also significantly associated with decreased number of home health care referrals.

CONCLUSIONS: Among pediatric inpatients with infections requiring long-term antibiotics, a primary caregiver with limited English proficiency was identified as an important independent risk factor for both increased LOS and decreased number of home health care referrals.

Author List

Levas MN, Cowden JD, Dowd MD

Author

Michael Levas MD Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Chi-Square Distribution
Child
Child, Preschool
Communication Barriers
Female
Home Care Services
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Language
Length of Stay
Logistic Models
Male
Missouri
Parents
Referral and Consultation
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors