Video-Interpreting in an Emergency Trauma Room Setting - a Feasibility Trial

Video-Interpreting in an Emergency Trauma Room Setting - a Feasibility Trial

Background: Global migration increases the likelihood of language barriers. In medical situations language barriers have a negative effect on quality of treatment and thus endanger patient safety.

In-hospital settings feasibility of video-translation has been demonstrated, yet there is lack of evidence in emergency trauma rooms. There, the physicians have to deal with time-critical decisions. Aims: This feasibility trial aims to investigate technical feasibility, usability as well as the impact on decision-making (e.g. alteration of treatment strategies). Methods: In this study 50 responsive patients with language barriers will be included. The anesthesiologic emergency physician will start video-translation via a tablet. Feasibility, quality of communication, usability as well as changes in diagnosis and treatment will be gathered and analyzed.

Inclusion Criteria:

• adult patients, at least 18 years old
• awake, responsive patients
• language barrier (Albanian, Dari, Romanian, Turkish, Modern Standard Arabic, Arabic, Farsi, Russian, Hungarian, Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian, Kurdish (Kurmanci), Slovakian, Bulgarian, Polish, and Czech)

Exclusion Criteria:

• unconscious patients
• cardiac arrest patients
• delay of treatment due to e-translation
• refusal of video-translation by the patient