A digital medical tool for health care professionals communication with minority speaking heart surgery patients during hospitalization: A qualitative study
Authors: Lie I , Rokeness S , Hasle C H , Johannsen N , Skredsvik K , Nes L S 
Published: July 2023

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): The Foundation Dam

Background/Introduction

Despite today’s high-technology society, communications with minority speaking heart patients in hospitals still depend on non-verbal language, notes from informal caregivers and "google translate" in situations where interpreters are not available. Digital solutions may be of help, but research into this area is limited. Innovative research exploring the use of a 24-7 digital medical translation tool is needed prior to hospital implementation.

Purpose

To explore the health care professionals’ experiences using a digital, medical translation tool in communication with minority speaking heart surgery patients during hospitalization.

Methods

A digital medical translation tool was customized for use in communication with hospitalized heart surgery patients by including standardized checklists for safe surgery and phrases for symptom assessment. Then qualitative interviews with health care professionals, ultimately using the digital translation tool presented on a tablet with text and audio were performed a) at the hotel/ward, b) preoperatively by both operating room nurses and anaesthesia nurses at the operating room, c) in a postoperative unit, d) in an intermediary unit, and e) at the cardiothoracic ward. A semi-structured interview guide was used during face-to-face interview at a university hospital in Norway and were carried out during November – December 2022. Data analyses were performed in NVivo software tool, following Braun and Clarke`s thematic analysis process.

Results

A total of 24 healthcare professionals, 22 nurses and two physiotherapists, mean age of 33 (range 23-57 years), and a mean of 9.5 years of professional experience, were interviewed shortly after they had cared for a minority speaking heart surgery patient at their health care unit. Four main themes were identified: i) useful and user-friendly tool, ii) establishing trust with the patient, iii) mapping patients’ symptoms and needs and iv) safe translation reassures health care professionals communication with heart surgery patients. The digital medical translation tool was experienced as easy to navigate in and useful to inform the patient, for example about medications, and to build trust by communicating with the patient in their own language. Being able to secure mapping of patients’ symptoms, especially pain, was underlined as a highly positive experience. Health care professionals reported experiencing the minority speaking patients as understanding the information when communicating through the digital medical translation tool.

Conclusions

Health care professionals responsible for caring for the minority speaking heart surgery patients during hospitalization experienced the digital medical translation tool to improve communication in a safe and trustworthy way. The digital translation tool appeared to provide useful support and strengthen patient safety, increasing the quality of health care even without the presence of an interpreter.