Improving Communication with and Building a Stronger Medical Home among Spanish-Speaking Patients with Leukemia or Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Their Families
This study evaluates patient and family experience receiving oncology care in the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. It has become evident that racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare are prevalent among both adults and children. Within the Latino population, studies have shown that children are more likely to report long waits for telephone or medical care, are less likely to have a consistent health care provider, and are less likely to be referred to specialty care. In addition, Latino families are more likely to report challenges with health care service access and more likely to suffer reduced employment due to the health care needs of their child. Children with parents whose preferential language is Spanish were found to be less likely to have a medical home than either Latino children with parental English language preference or non-Latino White children. It is critical to increase the sense of medical belonging and the reality of a medical home among non-English speaking patients in oncology care. Research shows that Spanish speaking patients and families with limited English proficiency often feel discouraged with accessing specialty healthcare for their children. Information gathered from this study may help researchers understand whether perspective of care among patients with low-English proficiency may improve equity of care, patient satisfaction in healthcare, and health outcomes based on patient responses and patient recommendations.