1. Communication Problems and Preferences of Limited English Proficiency Chinese Patients
Anne Tang, MD, FACP
Chief, Bilingual Chinese Module
Chief, Pharmacy & Therapeutics
San Francisco Kaiser Permanente Center of Excellence
Nancy P. Gordon, DSc
Kaiser Permanente Division of Research
3/12/2013
© 2013 Institute for Culturally Competent Care, National Diversity. All Rights Reserved.

2. KPSF Chinese LEP Patient Survey 2012
Assess the prevalence and frequency of communication issues
Identify barriers to communication
Access IT readiness
Identify preferred methods for receiving health information

3. KPSF Chinese LEP Patient Survey 2012
Participants: Chinese patients who received primary care in the KPSF Bilingual Chinese Module
Number completed survey: 2093
Focus:
VLEP (1,242)
LEP (430)
Age >35
VLEP=Very Limited English Proficiency ( speaks no English or not well)
LEP=Limited English Proficiency ( speaks English well but not very well)
12/1/2018
© 2013 Institute for Culturally Competent Care, National Diversity. All Rights Reserved.

4. Educational Level by Age and English Proficiency
35-59 yr
≥ 60 yr
In comparison, over 88% of those who said they spoke English very well had attended at least some college (62% were 4-year college graduates)

5. BY ENGLISH PROFICIENCY AND AGE GROUP
COMMUNICATION ISSUES
BY ENGLISH PROFICIENCY AND AGE GROUP

6. How often VLEP and LEP have difficulty understanding when someone speaks to them in English%
35-59 yr
≥ 60 yr

7. Percentage of VLEP and LEP with difficulty reading English/Chinese
At least one language %
35-59 yr
≥60 yr
35-59 yr
≥ 60 yr
35-59 yr
≥ 60 yr

8. Percentages of those who reads neither Chinese nor English (VLEP + LEP)%

9. How often VLEP and LEP have difficulty understanding letters in English/Chinese
Letters in Chinese %
35-59 yr
≥60 yr
35-59 yr
≥ 60 yr
* Includes people who always get help reading letters

10. How often VLEP and LEP have trouble understanding test results/instructions for medicines/procedures
and Procedures %
35-59 yr
≥60 yr
35-59 yr
≥ 60 yr

11. How often VLEP & LEP asks for help to understand the test results%
35-59 yr
≥ 60 yr
82% of VLEP and 66% of LEP would like someone to call them to explain
test results

12. Percentages who ask for help to understand test results and instructions by level of education (VLEP + LEP)
Usually has trouble
understanding test results
Usually asks for help %
70% of those at all levels of education thought it would be helpful to get
a call to discuss test results in addition to getting results in print

13. ABILITY TO ACCESS AND USE THE
INTERNET AND

14. How many has computer and Internet access at home%
≥ 60 yr
35-59 yr

15. Those able to get information from the Internet Those able to send and receive email
Get information from Internet
Use %
35-59 yr
≥ 60
35-59 yr
≥ 60 yr

16. Able to use the Internet to get information by self, by level of education and age group (VLEP +LEP)
Ages 35-59
Ages ≥ 60 %

17. Preferred Languages and Methods for Getting Reminders and Health Information

18. Preferred language for lab results letters, instructions for medicines and health information
Test Results/Instructions
Health Education Materials
Audio Materials %
35-59 yr
≥60 yr
35-59 yr
≥ 60 yr
≥ 35 yr

20. CONCLUSIONS
Chinese speaking patients with limited English proficiency have difficulties in their ability to understand health-related information even those who say they speak English well.
The ability of Chinese patients with limited English proficiency to understand and act on health-related communications may be related to their lower level of formal education.
Significant percentage of LEP patients prefer s with link to websites for their health information
Significant percentage of VLEP patients prefer Chinese media for their health information
Both VLEP and LEP prefer all information in their preferred language.

22. Bilingual Lab Letter 12/1/2018
© 2013 Institute for Culturally Competent Care, National Diversity. All Rights Reserved.

23. KPSF Bilingual Chinese Module
12/1/2018
© 2013 Institute for Culturally Competent Care, National Diversity. All Rights Reserved.