MedlinePlus Consumer Health Information in Multiple Languages RHIN Conference November 17, 2008 Paula Kitendaugh Head, References & Web Services, PSD.

MedlinePlusMedlinePlusConsumer Health Consumer Health Information in Multiple Information in Multiple LanguagesLanguages

RHIN ConferenceNovember 17, 2008Paula KitendaughHead, References & Web Services, PSD

MedlinePlusMedlinePlus

Study: Hospitals and Study: Hospitals and Patients with Limited Patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP)English Proficiency (LEP)

Hospital Language Services for Patients with Limited English Proficiency: Results from a National Survey (2006), HRET and American Hospital Association

Study: Physicians and LEPStudy: Physicians and LEP65% of physicians see LEP

patients80 different languages

encountered28% do not provide translated

information or forms for patients

15 minutes longer- average time per patient LEP office visit takes

Language Services for Patients with Limited English Proficiency: Results of a National Survey of Internal Medicine Physicians (2006) American College of Physicians

N = 1261 responding physicians who provide direct patient care at least 20 hours per week

Patients with fair to poor Patients with fair to poor health literacy:health literacy:

English speaking patients

Non-English speakers

Quality Consumer Health Quality Consumer Health Information CriteriaInformation Criteria

AuthoritativeUp-to-dateWritten for consumer audience

Additional criteria for language collection:United States audienceEnglish equivalentTranslation process or review indicated

What’s Popular – LanguagesWhat’s Popular – Languages

1. Chinese - Simplified2. Japanese3. French4. Arabic5. Portuguese6. Chinese - Traditional7. Vietnamese8. Russian9. Tagalog10. Italian

简体中文

日本語français

العربية

português

Русский

af Soomaali

What’s Popular – TopicsWhat’s Popular – Topics

1. Diabetes (4th most popular English topic)

2. High Blood Pressure (2)3. Tuberculosis (45)4. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (9)5. Pregnancy (15)6. Breast Cancer (21)7. Pneumonia (102)8. Stroke (56)9. Heart Diseases (69)10. Exercise and Physical Fitness (54)

Improvements & Improvements & ChallengesChallenges

More languages and more topicsLinks to cultural information for providersImprove discovery for non-English

speakersGo Local provider language identification