Family-Centered Rounds and Interpreter Partnership: Exploring Factors That Promote Quality

Patient families using languages other than English (LOE) face communication challenges. Family-centered rounds (FCR), the gold standard in inpatient pediatric care, are understudied in this population.

To (1) describe medical team behaviors during FCR with pediatric families who use LOE, (2) assess the quality of FCR and interpreter partnership and their association with interpreter partnership behaviors, and (3) examine associations between interpreter partnership behaviors and FCR duration.

This prospective observational study was conducted at a quaternary children's hospital. From March to October 2024, we observed general pediatric teams during FCR with families who spoke LOE using a standardized observer form. The independent variables were patient demographics and team behaviors, including interpretation modes (in-person, video, ad hoc) and methods (continuous interpretation; round without caregiver, interpret summary). The primary outcomes were quality scores for FCR (Agency of Health Research and Quality checklist) and interpreter partnership (Faculty Observer Rating Scale). The secondary outcome was FCR duration. Descriptive statistics and adjusted linear regression models were used.

Of 66 observed FCRs, 88% used interpretation. The majority used in-person interpretation (57%) and "round without caregiver, interpret summary" (42%). Interpretation use was associated with higher FCR quality (β = 2.06; P = .001). Ad hoc interpretation was associated with lower FCR quality (β = -1.37; P = .01) and interpreter partnership quality (β = -13.59; P = .001). No differences were found in FCR duration between interpretation modes, or between "continuous interpretation" and "round without caregiver, interpret summary" (P > .05).

Interpretation use was associated with higher FCR quality. There were no differences in FCR duration by interpretation mode or methods, supporting the feasibility of continuous interpretation.