International Journal of Language & Linguistics

Breaching the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: The Needs and Feasibility of in Hospital ESP Instruction
Daniel Rueckert, Esen Gokpinar-Shelton

Abstract
Children born to Limited English Proficient (LEP) caregivers experience high risks of mortality and have difficulty obtaining specialty care. English and health literacy programs tailored to caregivers are rare. This study developed tailored English instruction to assist native Spanish speaking LEP caregivers to more fully integrate into their children’s healthcare teams. We implemented a thorough needs assessment leading to a six-module tailored English intervention with five LEP caregivers. Pre/post analyses were conducted to measure effect of interventions on healthcare literacy, confidence, and integration into the healthcare team. All subjects showed improvement from pre to post tests of English language use and health literacy while qualitative data showed increases in confidence and integration into healthcare teams. In hospital, English language interventions can improve LEP caregiver participation in their children’s healthcare team and improve language and health literacy skills, but feasibility concerns of providing these programs remain.

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