TDNet Discover

Introduction: Effective communication is vital for quality healthcare, yet this essential factor may be compromised for patients with limited English proficiency (LEP). Language barriers can significantly impact patients’ understanding, satisfaction, and safety. Approximately 25.5 million people in the United States have LEP. As a result, many patients face challenges in understanding their anesthesia providers, which may lead to adverse outcomes. Additionally, provider factors, such as overestimating their ability to translate or biases in deciding the need for interpreter services, can further compromise effective communication and interaction between patients and anesthesia providers. The significance of the problem lies in its direct impact on patient outcomes. Without clear communication, LEP patients may experience anxiety and fear during interactions with providers who do not speak their language. Furthermore, ineffective communication between anesthesia providers and patients can lead to misunderstandings regarding the anesthetic plan, potentially compromising patient safety and trust. Additionally, despite the availability of various interpreter services such as in-person, video, or telephone, healthcare providers may not consistently utilize these resources, which can further negatively impact patient outcomes. The purpose of this literature review is to highlight the importance of using interpreter services in the preoperative area to enhance patients' understanding of anesthetic plans and associated risks and to facilitate effective communication between patients and anesthesia providers. The PICOT guiding this review is: In limited English-speaking patients (LEP), do interpreter services (inperson, video, or telephone) compared to untrained interpreters impact patient understanding and satisfaction in the preoperative area?