Designing Technology for Assessments of CALD Patients

• Published in: Studies in health technology and informatics Vol. 214; p. 36
• Main Authors: Freyne, Jill, Pocock, Courtney, Bradford, Dana, Harrap, Karen, Brinkman, Sally
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 2015
• Subjects: Hospital Communication Systems - organization & administration; Medical Informatics - methods; Mobile Applications; Natural Language Processing; Needs Assessment; Physician-Patient Relations; Telemedicine - methods; Telemedicine - organization & administration; Translating; Victoria
• ISSN: 0926-9630
• DOI: 10.3233/978-1-61499-558-6-36

Interpreters are required to aid communication between clinicians and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) patients to ensure appropriate and timely care. Demand for interpreting services however, often exceeds supply. A mobile app to translate clinical assessment questions in 10 common languages using pictorial, written and voice-over prompts to assist patient assessments when interpreters are unavailable has been developed. This paper reports on the User Needs Analysis that informed the app. The analysis consisted of focus groups with allied health clinicians to understand pertinent aspects of initial allied health assessments and the communication needs to be addressed in the design of an app-based patient assessment tool. Outcomes show that of primary importance to clinicians was the ability to not only ask the patients questions, but to communicate information to increase understanding of, and ensure compliance with, treatments and interventions to promote patient function and comfort.