Communication and healthcare complexity in people with little or no English: the Communication Complexity Score

Objective. To investigate the level of healthcare complexity of patients with limited English and the probability of use of professional interpreters, at a tertiary hospital in a multicultural area of Sydney, Australia.

Design. A multilingual telephone survey was matched with medical record reviews to assess modes of communication in a sample of 258 patients with limited English from nine language groups. The Model of Interpreter Usage and Complexity was used to explain the association between clinical complexity and interpreter usage. To measure clinical complexity, a summative rating scale, the Communication Complexity Score (CCS) was constructed comprising eight weighted scores related to admission status, urgency of admission, triage category, medical emergencies/events, HDU/ICU admission, numbers of medications, invasiveness of procedures, and diagnosis. Robust Multiple Logistic Regression was used for modelling the likelihood of interpreter usage with different levels of complexity.

Results. Of the 205 patients (79%) who spoke little or no English, 31% reported usage of professional interpreters. There was a positive association between CCS and usage of interpreters. Patients with high and moderate CCSs were significantly more likely to have used interpreters (OR=32.9, 95% CI 12.4–87.1 and OR=10.8, 95% CI 3.2–36.5, respectively). The CCS was found to have good psychometric properties and to be internally consistent (Cronbach's Alpha 0.84). The model was found to have good predictive power (Area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve 0.90).

Conclusion. While most patients (69%) had no interpreter, patients with high or moderate CCSs were more likely to have an interpreter, demonstrating a robust relationship between these two variables. Poor usage of interpreters in the Emergency Department was observed. Family and friends had a significant role in communication. These findings have important safety, policy, and practice implications for patients with limited English proficiency.     

Vascular access for dialysis in the United States: progress, hurdles, controversies, and the future

In 2003, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) made an increase in arteriovenous fistula (AVF) prevalence and a decrease in catheter prevalence a priority, initiating a project known since 2005 as the Fistula First Breakthrough Initiative (FFBI). From 2003 to June 2010, the prevalent AVF in use rate has increased from 32.2% to 55.8% according to CMS data, a remarkable achievement yet short of CMS's 66% prevalent AVF goal. The prevalent catheter rate decreased from 26.9% to 23.8% during this same period. Although an effort to augment AVF placement has resulted in issues of nonmaturation, the primary contributor to the 23.8% prevalent catheter rate is the 82% incident catheter rate, which has not declined significantly. Future efforts to decrease the prevalent catheter rate and increase the prevalent AVF rate must be directed at patients with stages 4 and 5 chronic kidney disease and the healthcare providers and practitioners involved in their care, including hospital systems, surgeons, referring physicians, and nephrologists. The nephrologist plays a key role in providing guidance to those providers and holding them accountable for improved vascular access outcomes.     

Antisocial personality disorder and TC treatment outcomes

There is a belief that persons diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (APD) do not respond well to treatment, but the existing research has not supported this hypothesis. This study examined the relationship of APD to therapeutic community (TC) treatment outcomes. A total of 275 men and women were randomly assigned to two TCs. It was hypothesized that clients diagnosed with APD via the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-II) would have poorer treatment outcomes than those with no APD. The MCMI-II was used to diagnose APD because of its focus in underlying pathological personality traits, as opposed to strict behavioral criteria as used in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders classifications for APD; this hypothesis was not supported. Logistic regression analyses indicated that an MCMI-II diagnosis of APD was unrelated to treatment outcomes. Treatment completion was the most important factor in reducing recent drug use and post-discharge arrests. The results indicate that persons diagnosed with APD, with histories of substantial drug abuse and criminality, can benefit from TC treatment with aftercare in the community or at the very least, do as well as those with no APD. In light of the high prevalence rates of APD in substance-abusing populations, future research should continue to explore the many issues surrounding the diagnosis of APD, as well as its relationship to treatment outcomes.     

Psychologic characteristics of polio survivors: a preliminary report

Ninety-three men and women with histories of polio were administered the Symptom Check List-90 Revised (SCL-90R), Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale-Self Report (PAIS-SR), and a questionnaire about their polio histories. The SCL-90R and PAIS-SR are measures of emotional and psychosocial functioning. Two samples were used: a clinic sample (n = 71) and a postpolio support group sample (n = 22). Initial results for both on the SCL-90R and PAIS-SR indicated elevated scores on a number of subscales. SCL-90R subscale elevated scores for men included those for somatization, depression, anxiety, hostility, and phobia, whereas for women there were elevations on measures of somatization, depression, anxiety, and psychoticism. Elevations were found in the following subscales on the PAIS-SR (pooling men and women): health care orientation, social environment, and extended family relationships. Men scored slightly, but not significantly, higher than women in the SCL-90R except for the hostility subscale, in which the difference was significant (p less than 0.05). Symptom profiles indicated psychologic distress. Comparisons with variables associated with polio and its late effects (such as severity of initial polio, use of an iron lung during initial illness, number of involved limbs, etc) were not statistically significant.     

Predictors of treatment outcomes in men and women admitted to a therapeutic community

This study compared factors that predict treatment outcomes in men and women randomly assigned to two therapeutic communities differing primarily in length of inpatient and outpatient treatment. Based on the prior research literature comparing treatment outcomes of men and women, we formulated the following research question: Do factors that predict drug use at follow-up, postdischarge arrest, and employment at follow-up differ for men and women? Self-reports and objective measures of criminal activity and substance abuse were collected at pre- and posttreatment interviews. Separate regression analyses were conducted for men and women for each of the three outcome variables. The results showed that the predictors of outcome for men and women were similar. Clients who completed the 12-month treatment programs had better outcomes regardless of gender. Men and women who completed treatment were characterized at follow-up by substantial reductions in drug use and arrests and by increased employment. Results further suggested that the longer residential treatment program had a particularly beneficial impact on women. Number of prior arrests was also associated with postdischarge outcomes for women. Women with more arrests at admission were more likely to have a postdischarge arrest and less likely to be employed at follow-up. This finding provides invaluable information about which women may be at greater risk for relapse and in need of additional services. We conclude that completion of treatment is the key predictor of treatment outcomes for both men and women.     

The social context of cannabis use: Relationship to cannabis use disorders and depressive symptoms among college students

Few studies have investigated the association between the social context of cannabis use and cannabis use disorder (CUD). This longitudinal study of college students aimed to: develop a social context measure of cannabis use; examine the degree to which social context is associated with the transition from non-problematic cannabis use to CUD; and, examine the association between social context of cannabis use and depressive symptoms. The analytic sample consisted of 322 past-year cannabis users at baseline. Four distinct and internally consistent social context scales were found (i.e., social facilitation, emotional pain, sex seeking, and peer acceptance). Persistent CUD (meeting DSM-IV criteria for CUD at baseline and 12 months later) was associated with using cannabis in social facilitation or emotional pain contexts, controlling for frequency of cannabis use and alcohol use quantity. Students with higher levels of depressive symptoms were more likely to use cannabis in an emotional pain or sex-seeking context. These findings highlight the importance of examining the social contextual factors relating to substance use among college students.     

Anemia management under a bundled payment policy for dialysis: a preview for the United States from Japan

The goal of a bundled payment policy for dialysis is to decrease overall expenditures and shift financial risk from the payer to the provider. The primary target for cost reduction is invariably erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), because of their large costs and potential for dose sparing. Japan succeeded in reducing ESA doses and maintaining stable hemoglobin levels through modest increases in intravenous iron administration. Dialysis providers in the United States have this and other strategies available.