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Language barriers in Hispanic patients: relation to upper-extremity disability

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HAND

Abstract

Background

Although upper-extremity disability has been shown to correlate highly with various psychosocial aspects of illness (e.g., self-efficacy, depression, kinesiophobia, and pain catastrophizing), the role of language in musculoskeletal health status is less certain. In an English-speaking outpatient hand surgery office setting, we sought to determine (1) whether a patient’s primary native language (English or Spanish) is an independent predictor of upper-extremity disability and (2) whether there are any differences in the contribution of measures of psychological distress to disability between native English- and Spanish-speaking patients.

Methods

A total of 122 patients (61 native English speakers and 61 Spanish speakers) presenting to an orthopaedic hand clinic completed sociodemographic information and three Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-based computerized adaptive testing questionnaires: PROMIS Pain Interference, PROMIS Depression, and PROMIS Upper-Extremity Physical Function. Bivariate and multivariable linear regression modeling were performed.

Results

Spanish-speaking patients reported greater upper-extremity disability, pain interference, and symptoms of depression than English-speaking patients. After adjusting for sociodemographic covariates and measures of psychological distress using multivariable regression modeling, the patient’s primary language was not retained as an independent predictor of disability. PROMIS Depression showed a medium correlation (r = −0.35; p < 0.001) with disability in English-speaking patients, while the correlation was large (r = −0.52; p < 0.001) in Spanish-speaking patients. PROMIS Pain Interference had a large correlation with disability in both patient cohorts (Spanish-speaking: r = −0.66; p < 0.001; English-speaking: r = −0.77; p < 0.001). The length of time since immigration to the USA did not correlate with disability among Spanish speakers.

Conclusion

Primary language has less influence on symptom intensity and magnitude of disability than psychological distress and ineffective coping strategies. Interventions to optimize mood and to reduce pain interference should be considered in patients of all nationalities.

Type of study/level of evidence: Prognostic II.

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Conflict of Interest

Mariano E. Menendez declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Kyle R. Eberlin declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Chaitanya S. Mudgal declares that he has no conflict of interest.

David Ring declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Statement of Human and Animal Rights

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2008.

Statement of Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all subjects, and all identifying details have been omitted from publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopaedic Hand and Upper Extremity Service, Yawkey Center, Suite 2100, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Mariano E. Menendez, Kyle R. Eberlin, Chaitanya S. Mudgal & David Ring

Authors
  1. Mariano E. Menendez
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  2. Kyle R. Eberlin
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  3. Chaitanya S. Mudgal
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  4. David Ring
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Correspondence to David Ring.

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Menendez, M.E., Eberlin, K.R., Mudgal, C.S. et al. Language barriers in Hispanic patients: relation to upper-extremity disability. HAND 10, 279–284 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11552-014-9697-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11552-014-9697-8

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