Purpose: Asian Americans (AA) are the fastest growing minority group in the United States. Despite this rapid growth, little is known about AA's perspectives on the components of high-quality care, especially among those who are Limited-English-Proficient (LEP). We used patient group interviews to evaluate quality of care from the view of LEP-AA patients(pts).
Methods: LEP-AA pts of Vietnamese and Chinese origins were recruited from four urban community health centers. We interviewed 122 pts in 12 gender-specific focus groups. Focus groups were conducted in Vietnamese and Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese by trained bilingual interviewers. Three investigator reviewed each transcript and identified recurring themes about the attributes of quality health care.
Results: LEP-Asian-American(AA) pts prefered using trained interpreters rather than family members. LEP-AA pts valued providers and interpreters who show "respect" to the pts, demonstrated by having a welcoming and courteous manner. They also valued providers who show knowledge of non-Western medical practices, such as "coining" or "cupping." They valued providers who are conscientious in caring for pts' social and psychological needs as well as medical needs, and wanted specific treatment recommendations at the conclusion of visits. AA pts also rated highly having adequate access to their providers, adequate time with their providers, and having good continuity of care.
Conclusion: LEP-AA pts regard having access to professional medical interpreters as an important indicator of quality care. These pts define a culturally competent provider as one who is knowledgeable about non-Western medical practices and is open to talking to patients about these practices.
Learning Objectives: learn about cultural competency in developing a survey for limited-English proficient immigrants regarding the quality of medical care
Keywords: Asian Americans, Medical Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.