This is a simple study, but demonstrates an incredibly important risk – the effect on language barriers on subsequent prescription dosing errors.
These authors followed up English-speaking and Spanish-speaking parental dyads being prescribed acetaminophen at discharge from the Emergency Department. The discharge instructions were observed, and, following discharge, the parents were asked to repeat back their understanding of the correct weight-based dose of acetaminophen for their child.
English-speaking parents: 25% dosing errors
Spanish-speaking parents: 54% dosing errors
Firstly, these are both too high – despite a standardized chart given to parents. Observation of discharged indicated providers only explicitly identified the dose of acetaminophen for parents 37% of the time.
Secondly, it’s clear an extra level of care needs to be taken when language barriers present themselves. The dosing error risk remained significant whether adjusted for health literacy, income, or preferred language of discharge instructions.
We can, and need, to do better.
“Parental Language and Dosing Errors After Discharge From the Pediatric Emergency Department”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23974717