3170.1: Monday, November 13, 2000 - Board 0

Abstract #18164

Increase Access to Care for Asian Pacific Islanders through Interpretation Services

Heng L. Foong1, Sora Park Tanjasiri, DrPH,, MPH2, and Susan K. Choi1. (1) PALS for Health, 605 Olympic Blvd.600, Los Angeles, CA 90015, (213)553-1876, palshealth@earthlink.net, (2) School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine, SE 1, Irvine, CA 92697-7075, (949)824-7422, tanjasir@uci.edu

Health care providers who care for limited-English speaking Asian and Pacific Islander patients face considerable challenges of diagnosis and treatment. Yet, there is no data on the impacts of interpretation services on improved patient outcomes. The Pacific Asian Language Services Program (PALS for Health) is a non-profit community-based program which offers trained medical interpretation services to LEP APIs in Los Angeles and Orange County, California. An evaluation of the impact of interpretation services on the knowledge and attitudes of PALS clients was conducted in the Spring of 2000. Telephone surveys were administered by trained bilingual interviewers to clients speaking Cantonese, Mandarin, Chinese, Korean, Thai, and Vietnamese. Respondents indicate satisfaction with interpretation services, increased knowledge about medications and other aspects of their conditions, and decreased delay in care. Implications for increased language access and civil rights for Asians and Pacific Islanders will be discussed.

Learning Objectives: N/A

Keywords: Asian and Pacific Islander,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA