Language Disparities in the PFT Lab: Implications for PFT Lab Quality Performance - Takeaways - MDSpire

Addressing Language Barriers in Pulmonary Function Testing: Effects on Lab Quality and Patient Outcomes

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1

Language barriers significantly reduce access to healthcare and worsen outcomes for non-English-speaking patients.
2

In a study, 19% of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) involved language discordance, leading to higher rates of low-quality results.
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Low-quality spirometry scores were found in 40% of tests with language discordance, compared to 16% in nondiscordant tests.
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Technologist experience of less than 12 months was associated with lower quality spirometry results, highlighting training gaps.
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The study suggests that simply providing translation services is insufficient to overcome communication challenges in PFTs.