Limited English proficiency is associated with delays in receiving surgical care

Narrative synthesis #

Of the review's 4 studies evaluating surgical-care delays, 2 reported significant delays for patients with LEP, 1 reported no difference, and 1 was equivocal (significant delay in the more recent subcohort but not the historical subcohort). The abstract summarizes this as delays in obtaining care in 3 of 4 studies. Studies defined "delay" heterogeneously (time from diagnosis to surgery, diagnosis to treatment, or referral to surgical-department encounter), so the review reports directionality rather than a pooled estimate. Certainty/GRADE appraisal is left for expert review.

"Two studies reported significant delays in care among patients with LEP, whereas 1 study reported no difference. The remaining study was equivocal, reporting significant delays in care for patients with LEP in the more recent subcohort analysis, but such association was not significant in the historical subcohort." (Joo, 2023, p. 7)