EP152 - The Impact Of Spanish-speaking Providers On Follow-up Adherence In Pelvic Floor Therapy For Limited English Proficiency Patients.

Saturday, May 10, 2025

3:47 PM – 3:52 PM PT

Location: Monitor 7, Sails Pavilion, Upper Level

ePoster Presenter(s)

Narjes Sweis, MD

Research Fellow
The University of Illinois Chicago
chicago, IL, United States

All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.
This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Author(s)

MS

Matthew Stach, n/a

Medical Student
University of Illinois Chicago
Glenview, Illinois, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
Marhama Zafar, M.B.B.S. (she/her/hers)

Research Fellow
The University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL, United States

All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.
This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.
VC

Vivek Chaudhry, MD, FACS, FASCRS

Clin Prof of Surgery
University of Illinois
Chicago, Illinois, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
EB

Elisa Bianchi, MD

Colorectal Surgeon
University of Illinois at Chicago
chicago, Illinois, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
MA

Mohamad A. Abdulhai, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery
University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois, United States

All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.
This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.
GG

Gerald Gantt, MD

Associate Professor of Surgery
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States

All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.
This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Senior Author(s)

AP

Alejandra Perez-Tamayo, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States

All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.
This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.

All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.

Narjes Sweis, MD: This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Marhama Zafar, M.B.B.S.: This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Mohamad A. Abdulhai, MD: This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Gerald Gantt, MD: This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Alejandra Perez-Tamayo, MD: This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Image or Table (Do Not add text here):

Purpose/Background: Language barriers in healthcare settings pose significant challenges for patients with limited English proficiency (LEP), potentially compromising access to care and adherence to treatment plans. This study investigates the role of language-concordant providers on adherence to pelvic floor physical therapy among in patients with pelvic floor disorders, highlighting the critical importance of linguistic inclusivity in enhancing healthcare outcomes.

Methods/Interventions: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent manometry and related pelvic floor physical therapy treatments. Data on language concordance with the provider and follow-up adherence were collected, comparing LEP patients with EP patients, to assess the impact of language-concordant care on treatment continuity.

Results/Outcomes: Of the 422 patients reviewed, 55 had LEP. Out of these, 279 were referred to physical therapy, including 31 LEP patients. All Spanish-speaking LEP patients received care from a language-concordant provider, accounting for 91% of the LEP group. Furthermore, LEP patients demonstrated a higher likelihood of follow-up compared to EP patients, (P value < 0.01).

Conclusion/Discussion: Our findings reveal that LEP patients, when supported by language concordant providers and, exhibit higher follow-up adherence in pelvic floor physical therapy compared to their EP counterparts. This underscores the critical role of language-concordant care in enhancing patient engagement and improving healthcare outcomes. These results highlight the need for healthcare systems to prioritize linguistic inclusivity and support services to ensure equitable access and treatment adherence for all patients, particularly those facing language barriers.