Association Between Language, Interpreter Use, and Pediatric Surgical Outcomes

In brief

This study examines how language preferences and interpreter use impact surgical outcomes in pediatric patients, addressing a gap in understanding healthcare disparities. While racial, geographic, and socioeconomic inequities in pediatric surgery are documented, the role of language barriers remains understudied.

• Racial, geographic, and socioeconomic disparities in pediatric surgical outcomes are well-documented.
• Language barriers and interpreter use represent an understudied dimension of health equity in pediatric surgery.
• Preferred language may be an independent risk factor for differential surgical outcomes in children.
• Research gap exists: limited data on how interpreter services impact pediatric surgical care quality and safety.
• Addressing language-related disparities could be a key intervention to improve equitable pediatric surgical outcomes.

Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.