Providing a Spanish interpreter using low-cost videoconferencing in a community health centre: a pilot study using...

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Telemedicine
• Medical Communication

Background:

• Advancements in mobile and affordable videoconferencing technology enable remote foreign language interpretation in clinical settings.
• Proof of acceptability among clinicians and patients is crucial for widespread adoption of remote interpretation services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the audio and video technical fidelity of iPad/Facetime software for remote interpretation.
• To evaluate patient and clinician acceptability of videoconferencing for language interpretation services.

Main Methods:

• A convenience sample of Spanish-speaking patients, clinicians, and interpreters participated in a videoconferencing study.
• Interpreters connected remotely via iPads to facilitate communication between patients and physicians in examination rooms.
• A five-item survey assessed perceptions of videoconferencing quality, audio/video fidelity, encounter duration, and future use.

Main Results:

• High ratings for overall videoconferencing quality (96% good/excellent) and audio/video fidelity were reported by patients.
• Most patients perceived videoconferencing encounters as shorter or equal in duration to in-person visits.
• A significant majority of patients (94%) favored using videoconferencing for future healthcare appointments, with similar clinician satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Videoconferencing technology proved effective and satisfactory for remote foreign language interpretation in a community health center.
• The study supports the expansion of off-site videoconferencing interpretation to enhance cost-effective healthcare delivery.
• Remote interpretation services are a viable and well-received solution for improving healthcare access for non-English speaking patients.