Assessment of a Video Training Module on Effective Communication with Interpreters

Trainee physicians are expected to communicate effectively with patients requiring language interpretation immediately when beginning independent practice, yet few receive training. Given the importance of professional interpreters' expertise and perspectives in teaching physicians, our team of pediatric residents, attending physicians, and professional interpreters co-developed an interdisciplinary educational video module to teach best practices. Residents and fellows at a large academic medical center completed the module in June 2022. Participants' knowledge and self-reported behaviors were assessed three times: before the module (pre-test), immediately after the module (immediate post-test), and 6 months after the module (delayed post-test). Our analysis included 96 out of 333 respondents (29%) who completed all three tests. Mean pre-test to delayed post-test scores increased. The single best practice behavior reported more often by trainees at the time of the delayed post-test was interpreter maintenance of confidentiality. A video module improved trainee knowledge on working with interpreters, though more research is needed on how to improve best-practice behaviors.