The impact of training on communication quality during interpreter‐mediated cognitive assessments: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Introduction The number of Australian residents with dementia is projected to double by 2058, with 28% currently being migrants from non‐Anglophone countries. There will be growing demand for professional interpreters for cognitive assessments and dementia‐related health consultations in the future. Interpreting cognitive assessments can be challenging for interpreters; inaccurate interpreting can influence assessment outcomes. The Improving Interpreting for Dementia Assessments (MINDSET) project will upskill interpreters through an online training course in dementia and cognitive assessments. The training has been co‐designed with key stakeholders from the interpreting sector, dementia‐related services, and family caregivers, and has been user‐tested with 12 interpreters. The training aims to improve the quality of interpreter‐mediated communication during cognitive assessments, and thereby improve the accuracy and acceptability of cognitive assessments with older people who have limited English proficiency. Methods We are conducting a single‐blinded randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the training. We aim to enroll 150 interpreters, and allocate them to equal parallel groups. The intervention group will receive access to the MINDSET training, which comprises 4 hours of resources covering five domains: dementia knowledge, cross‐cultural communication, briefings and debriefings, interpreting skills, and interpreting ethics. The control group will be assigned to a wait list, and will receive access to the training after the trial. Participants will be assessed according to the five domains, via the Dementia Knowledge and Assessment Scale, multiple‐choice questions, video‐simulated assessments, and ethical scenarios. Assessments will occur at baseline (prior to the intervention group completing the training), 3 months after enrollment, and 6 months after enrollment. Results The trial is ongoing. Recruitment began in June 2022. Discussion This is the first time a training resource for interpreters in dementia has been trialed. If successful it may represent a technologically innovative way to offer training to both trainee and practicing interpreters. Highlights Interpreters are crucial in facilitating cognitive assessments for allophone speakers. Interpreters would benefit from training to improve assessment accuracy. Our study has co‐designed specialized dementia training for interpreters. This is a protocol to evaluate the training's efficacy in a randomized controlled trial.

Breaking the barriers: overcoming dementia-related stigma in minority communities

“…In such instances, the involvement of translators or cultural brokers in these situations is significant in promoting successful communication and overcoming language barriers ( 57 ). Moreover, these individuals possess a deep understanding of the social norms that must be delicately negotiated within healthcare interactions ( 58 , 59 ). The inclusion of culturally competent translators within healthcare teams may facilitate the navigation of the healthcare system, enable CALD patients to articulate their issues, and facilitate access to suitable healthcare services ( 59 ).…”

The MINDSET Study: Co-Designing Training for Interpreters in Dementia and Cognitive Assessments

“…The aim of this article is to report on the first phase, the co-design of the training and assessment, and describe the challenges encountered and how these were resolved. The trial is ongoing at the time of writing and will evaluate the impact of the MINDSET training on the quality of interpreted communication during cognitive assessments using online simulations (Brijnath, Gonzalez, et al, 2022). For the purposes of designing an trial, the training and assessment is currently limited to the six most highly represented languages other than English spoken by older residents in Australia: Mandarin, Cantonese, Italian, Arabic, Greek, and Vietnamese.…”

Cross-cultural effects of reminiscence therapy on life satisfaction and autobiographical memory of older adults: a pilot study across Mexico and Spain

“…There is little to no literature on the comparison of the continuum in the aging process from a normal to a pathological aging, using the same therapeutic interventions and evaluating similar dimensions. Moreover, we refer specifically to the efficacy in the transition stage between both realities, which is the clinical entity of mild cognitive impairment [16,17].…”