Language Disparities in the PFT Lab: Implications for PFT Lab Quality Performance

To investigate the impact of language discordance on the quality of pulmonary function tests (PFTs).

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of nearly 1,500 PFTs over a 1-year period at an academic medical center.
Data Analysis: Assessment of PFT quality grades in relation to language discordance between patients and technologists.

19% of PFTs were conducted with language discordance.
24% of all tests received low-quality scores, with 35% for FEV1 and 40% for FVC in discordant subjects, compared to 16% for each of FEV1 and FVC in nondiscordant subjects.
Language discordance was associated with increased odds of low-quality FEV1 and FVC after adjusting for various factors.
Technologist experience of <12 months was linked to low-quality testing.

Language discordance significantly contributes to low-quality spirometry tests, with in-person interpretation not improving outcomes.

Retrospective study design.
Assumption of preferred language from medical records.
Limited experience of technologists, with only one having ≥12 months of experience.
Uncertainty regarding the clinical relevance of poor-quality testing.

Enhanced education for interpreters, use of audiovisual aids, and improved technologist training may mitigate language discordance issues in PFTs.