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Linguistic Validation of Interactive Educational Interventions in Neurologic Trauma
Ronald Sahyouni1, Amin Mahmoodi2, Diem K Tran2
1School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA.
Interactive educational tools in native languages significantly improve understanding of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and concussion for diverse patient groups. These digital interventions enhance patient comprehension and communication with healthcare providers.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Medical Education
- Health Communication
Background:
- Neurological surgeons face challenges in educating diverse patients about complex conditions like traumatic brain injury (TBI) and concussion due to time and language barriers.
- Assessing the effectiveness of educational interventions across different linguistic and cultural backgrounds is crucial for equitable patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the linguistic validity and impact of interactive, iPad-based educational interventions for non-English-speaking patients with TBI and concussion.
- To measure changes in patient and family understanding and comfort levels with their medical conditions and treatment.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 273 neurotrauma patients and family members across English, Spanish, Korean, and Vietnamese language groups.
- Participants completed pre- and post-surveys after interacting with a native-language, iPad-based iBook on concussion or TBI.
- Outcomes were assessed by comparing survey scores and subsequent consultations with neurosurgeons.
Main Results:
- All participants demonstrated significant improvements in understanding after using the iBook, with average scores increasing from 2.810 to 4.109.
- Comprehension gains were consistent across all native languages and cultural backgrounds.
- While Caucasian participants scored higher, Asian participants scored lower than the combined average, indicating potential disparities in baseline understanding or intervention effectiveness across ethnicities.
Conclusions:
- Interactive, language-tailored iBook interventions effectively increase patient and family comprehension of concussion and TBI.
- These digital tools enhance patient comfort with their condition and follow-up care, improving physician communication.
- The findings support the linguistic validity of such interventions for diverse populations, irrespective of their native language or cultural background.
