Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Major(s)

Biochemistry

Document Type

Immediate Campus-Only Restricted Access

Abstract

Establishing trust is essential in the patient-physician interaction and understanding is necessary for a patient to receive quality care. When appropriate translation services are not provided, the quality of care provided to the patient by the physician may be negatively impacted and health literacy, or a person’s ability to find and understand information regarding healthcare, may be impacted, ultimately impacting health outcomes. This study aims to determine the availability of translation services throughout Mississippi as well as the accessibility of information regarding translation services for patients with limited English proficiency (LEP). A list of hospitals in Mississippi was compiled, each hospital was called, and hospital websites were systematically reviewed to determine whether information regarding translation services was provided to potential patients. This method was designed to mimic the steps the patient could take to determine whether translation services are provided at these hospitals. A majority of hospitals throughout Mississippi (63.49% on websites and 64.71% on phone calls) do provide information regarding translation services, but information is not always easy to access. It would potentially be more difficult for patients with LEP to obtain this information. Approximately one-third of hospitals do not offer translation services or have no information available, so their patients with LEP may experience diminished health outcomes as a result. Further studies could be done to determine if results are similar across the south as well as the effects of lack of funding on decreased availability of translation services.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.54718/APDR4913

Date Defended

4-25-2025

Thesis Director

Dr. Holli Seitz

Second Committee Member

Dr. Renee Snyder

Third Committee Member

Dr. Anastasia Elder

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