Improving Communication for Surgical Patients With Cancer With Limited English Proficiency.
Linda Bloom
PMID 37677773WHAT IT FOUND
After staff education and new devices, interpreter use rose from 20 minutes to 648 minutes of video sessions.
Nurses used trained interpreters more often, improving language access for surgical patients with limited English proficiency.
Key findings
01Interpreter usage minutes and calls increased significantly after staff education and the addition of new audio, video, and wearable communication technologies.
02The initiative led to sustained changes in unit culture and workflow, with communication assistance becoming the standard of care for perianesthesia nurses.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The project was conducted in a single cancer center on a perianesthesia platform, so results may not generalize to other units or institutions. Data collection ceased in March 2020 due to the pandemic, limiting long-term efficacy assessment. The lack of preparedness for data collection by task force members was cited as a confounding factor. No patient outcomes were measured; the study only tracked interpreter usage metrics.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the increase in interpreter call minutes as evidence of improved patient clinical outcomes or satisfaction. The study measured compliance with interpreter use as a process metric, not patient health results.