Video remote sign language interpreting in health communication for deaf people: protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Article Article scientifique Article Video remote sign language interpreting in health communication for deaf people: protocol for a randomized controlled trial eng 2024-07-21 2024-12-02 author Rivas Velarde Minerva 0000-0003-3747-3306 839794 author Izquierdo Martínez Laura Catalina 402615 author Dalal Jyoti 983980 author Martinez-R Angela author Cruz Reyes Danna Lesley author Cuculick Jess author Vallejo-Silva Alexie author Irreño-Sotomonte Jonathan author Groce Nora e64590 10.2196/64590 39622021 1929-0748 Background: The current standard of interpretation provision is not efficacious or not acceptable to Deaf patients who communicate using sign language. In-person or video relay interpretation (VRI) sign language interpretation is largely unavailable. There are no clear data on the availability of VRI or in-person interpretation. Given the limited number of available sign language interpreters and the cost, VRI may be more available than in-person. Existing evidence tends to focus on assessing personal preferences of Deaf users regarding interpretation and interpreters’ preferences. Although respecting preferences is essential, there is a vacuum of knowledge on how the format of access to interpretation impacts the quality of communication between Deaf persons and health personnel. Objective: This study aims to look at the effectiveness of the VRI system in improving communication outcomes between Deaf patients and doctors versus the available standard of care of the usual communication tools, including informal interpretation, lip- or note-reading, and using their mobile phones to contact a formal or informal interpreter, for Deaf patients aged 18 years and older in Bogota, Colombia. Methods: This is a randomized controlled trial with a total sample size of 216 participants, divided into 2 groups: an intervention group, which receives a medical appointment using VRI, and a control group, which receives a medical appointment using standard communication. Both the Deaf participants and the health care professionals will be blinded to the allocation, as they will not know whether the appointment will involve VRI or standard communication until they arrive at the office. The primary outcome measure will be an assessment of communication using a Doctor-Patient Communication Scale. This scale was translated into Colombian Sign Language following a rigorous cultural adaptation and translation procedure. Furthermore, the database contains key clinical variables and recommendations provided by the doctor during a general medicine appointment. We will compute associations. Results: Recruitment opened on August 24, 2023. As of July 2024, 180 participants had been enrolled. The intervention and data collection were finalized in October 2024. The findings of this study are expected to be submitted for publication in early 2025. Conclusions: This study will provide rigorous evidence regarding information and communications technology intervention in health care, addressing empirical challenges in using inclusive research designs in public health. In addition, effective VRI models that address the challenges faced by Deaf people will be tested, implemented, and maintained in low- and middle-income countries. A disability-inclusive evaluative tool for quality communication mediated by VRI in health care is also tested. Ultimately, this will lead to evidence-based recommendations for implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in mobile health contexts. VRI Deaf Comunication Health ICTs Dewey 174.957 Swiss National Science Foundation Assessing the Impact of Video Remote Sign Language Interpreting in Healthcare: Linking Disability Studies with Empirical Challenges of Public Health Research 186035 CH Careers 69 Institut Ethique Histoire Humanités 22A6 false 1151 HI5lab (Health Informatics for Innovation, Integration, Implementation and Impact) 453 Ethique biomédicale 783 JMIR research protocols 13 1a05c3e0-7428-4eb1-a7cd-a9d8862e37dd Article (Published version) Public resprot-2024-1-e64590.pdf 120652 application/pdf CC BY-4.0 cb9811b2ee95ab37f7901bddd1c78b04ea541e20939abe97e6267544e6f04ab2 openAccess Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de santé et médecine communautaires / Institut Ethique Histoire Humanités

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Video remote sign language interpreting in health communication for deaf people: protocol for a randomized controlled trial	JMIR research protocols			2024	36	361

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