Table 2.

Professional Interpretation and Provider Discharge Communication Behaviors

Parameter	Value
Communication interaction analysis
Interpretation modality in individual communication interactions (n = 101), %*
Professional interpretation	66
In-person	2
Phone	39
Video	26
No professional interpretation	31
Spoke in English	20
Spoke in Spanish	7
Use of ad hoc interpreter†	4
Bilingual provider‡	3
Patient visit analysis
Content of discharge education covered in each patient visit (n = 33§), %
Summary of illness/diagnosis	100
Teaching for home management	85
Instructions on medication use‖	82
Teaching on medication dosing¶	65
Teaching on medication administration¶	0
Required or recommended follow-up	48
Return precautions	55
Highest-quality strategy to assess comprehension in each patient visit (n = 47#), %
Teach-back	0
Open-ended invitation to ask questions	13
Close-ended invitation to ask questions	64
Direct closed question	15
None	9

^*Includes all communication interactions containing discharge education.

^†Use of a family member, friend, or other untrained individual for interpretation.

^‡Providers who had passed a certification exam and were permitted to provide care bilingually.

^§Includes only patient visits in which the patient was discharged to home from the emergency department.

^‖Applicable if provider gave teaching for home management (n = 28).

^¶Applicable if provider gave instructions on medication use (n = 23).

^#Includes all patient visits.