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BMC Health Services Research
Published in: BMC Health Services Research 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Healthcare interpreter utilisation: analysis of health administrative data

Authors: Nicole Blay, Sharelle Ioannou, Marika Seremetkoska, Jenny Morris, Gael Holters, Verily Thomas, Everett Bronwyn

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Few people with limited English proficiency are provided with the services of a healthcare interpreter when admitted to hospital. This retrospective study utilised health administrative data to explore which patients with limited English proficiency were provided with a healthcare interpreter during their hospital admission.

Method

A retrospective analysis of health administrative data for adult overnight-stay patients admitted to a public hospital in a region of significant cultural and linguistic diversity in Sydney, Australia in 2014–2015. Descriptive analyses were used to explore demographic and diagnostic data. Chi-square and analysis of variance were used to test for association between variables.

Results

The site hospital provided for 19,627 overnight-stay episodes of care over the one year period. Emergency admissions made up 70.5% (n = 13,845) of all hospital admissions and obstetric patients 11.7% (n = 2291). For 15.7% (n = 3074) of episodes of care a healthcare interpreter was identified at hospital admission as being required. In 3.7% (n = 727) of episodes of care a healthcare interpreter was provided. Patients who received an interpreter were more likely to be female, of a younger age and admitted to hospital for childbirth.

Conclusions

A minority of patients with limited English proficiency received a healthcare interpreter during their episode of care. The majority of interpreter services were provided to obstetric patients.
Footnotes
1
Episode of care in this study is equivalent to a hospital admission.
 
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Metadata
Title
Healthcare interpreter utilisation: analysis of health administrative data
Authors
Nicole Blay
Sharelle Ioannou
Marika Seremetkoska
Jenny Morris
Gael Holters
Verily Thomas
Everett Bronwyn
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3135-5

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