The effect of limited English proficiency and interpreter service use on clinical outcomes in psychiatric inpatient units

Objective: The effects of limited English and interpreter use on clinical outcomes in mental health are poorly understood. This paper describes an exploratory study examining those effects across three adult inpatient psychiatric units, predicting it would lead to increased length of stay. Methods: Forty-seven patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) were retrospectively identified and compared with 47 patients with proficient English. Length of stay, number of consultant reviews and discharge diagnosis were recorded and compared. Results: An increased length of stay for those with LEP was not statistically significant (p=0.155). The LEP group did undergo more consultant reviews (p=0.036), however, and attracted different discharge diagnoses, with no primary discharge diagnoses of personality disorder made (p=0.018). Conclusions: This study provides evidence of significant effects of limited English on both service burden and outcome.