Health Policy

September 17, 2012 | Feature/Topic

Browse research, insight and analysis on key issues affecting health and health care in the United States.

Fresh Ideas: Improving the Health of Immigrant and Refugee Communities

June 13, 2013 | Program Results Report

Fresh Ideas was a targeted solicitation for proposals that aimed to give immigrants and refugees the tools and support they need to improve and maintain their own health.

Developing Universal Symbols for Health Care Facilities

May 13, 2011 | Program Results Report

Project staff worked with a design team to create and test a set of universal graphic symbols to help people with limited proficiency in English find their way around health care facilities.

"Does this Doctor Speak My Language?"

February 1, 2011 | Journal Article

Having doctors rerate their non-English language skills on a descriptive, 5-level scale, from an initial, non-descriptive 3-level scale, resulted in physicians more modestly assessing their fluency. This seems to improve the accuracy of self-reported proficiency.

Hablamos Juntos (Together We Speak)

August 12, 2010 | Journal Article

Hablamos Juntos supplied Spanish interpreters to health care providers in eight states. This study examined data from the program to determine if the presence of an interpreter improved communication between health care providers and their Latino patients.

Self-Reported Fluency in Non-English Languages Among Physicians Practicing in California

June 1, 2010 | Journal Article

International medical graduates contribute to the diversity of languages spoken by California physicians.

Race, Ethnicity, and Language Data

August 31, 2009 | Report

Parents' Medication Administration Errors

February 1, 2010 | Journal Article

Parents often give their children inaccurate doses of medicine. For this study, researchers observed parents administer liquid medicine to their children using a set of standardized dosing instruments. The study occurred in late 2008 at an urban public hospital.

A Low-Literacy Medication Education Tool for Safety-Net Hospital Patients

December 1, 2009 | Journal Article

This article examines a randomized clinical trial testing a medication education tool designed for low-literacy hospital discharge patients. The researchers found that the education tool did not have an effect on medication adherence.

Impact of Interpreters on the Receipt of New Prescription Medication Information Among Spanish-Speaking Latinos

December 1, 2009 | Journal Article

This article examines how Latinos who are not fluent in English receive information about the purpose, side effects and correct usage of prescribed medications. The Latino population is rapidly increasing throughout the United States and language barriers can make it difficult for providers to deliver optimal medical care.

Radio Bilingue Develops Health Programming and Plans a Health Desk

January 23, 2009 | Program Results Report

Radio Bilingue produced a body of health programming and developed a strategic plan for creating a health desk to expand its health focus.