RecruitingACTRN12624001114538

The Effect of Translated information to improve consent for surgery in non-English speaking patients: a randomised controlled trial

Evaluating the efficacy of a Google-translated patient education website on informed consent for surgery in Orthopaedic patients with limited English: a randomised controlled trial

Sponsor

Western Health - Orthopaedic Unit

Enrollment

36 participants

Start Date

Jan 10, 2025

Study Type

Interventional

Conditions

Informed Consent for Surgery Surgical consent in non-English speaking patients

Summary

This randomised controlled trial aims to find out whether a patient education website, translated into patients' preferred language using Google translate, improves the knowledge of non-English-speaking (NES) patients during the surgical consent process. Previous studies have shown that patient education websites improves patient knowledge of their planned orthopaedic surgery in English-speaking patients. Non-English speaking patients are more likely to have poorer health understanding and a less thorough informed consent for surgery. We do not know if an education website translated using Google Translate is helpful for non-English speaking patients. We are using Google Translate for this purpose because it translates instantly for free and is easily available to both patients and doctors. We are hoping that this will improve care by increasing both patient knowledge and satisfaction during the process of informed consent for surgery for patients who do not speak English.

Eligibility

Sex: Both males and femalesMin Age: 18 Yearss

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

When patients who don't speak English need surgery, getting truly informed consent can be a real challenge. Understanding what's going to happen, what the risks are, and what alternatives exist is essential for making a good decision — but this is much harder to achieve without clear information in your own language. This study is testing whether a patient education website, translated into a patient's preferred language using Google Translate, improves how well non-English-speaking patients understand their planned hip or knee replacement surgery. Some participants will be shown the translated website before their consent appointment, while others will receive the usual process. Both groups will answer questions to test their knowledge and satisfaction. You may be eligible if you are on the waiting list for a total knee or hip replacement, are 18 or older, have limited English and normally use an interpreter for medical appointments, and are able to read basic medical information in your own language. This study aims to make surgical consent fairer and more meaningful for patients from diverse cultural backgrounds.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

Interested in this trial?

Get notified about updates and connect with the research team.

Interventions

This study will evaluate the use of a Google-Translated patient education website following standard informed consent for surgery process, to assess if it can improve non-English-speaking patient knowledge compared to the standard surgical consent process. The intervention will be the use of a Google-translated patient education website (orthoanswer.org). The researcher will provide participants in the intervention group with access to the Orthoanswer web page with information specific to their operation (total hip or knee replacement) translated in their preferred language using a Google Translate widget. The content provided on the patient education website includes information on diagnosis, alternative interventions, benefits of surgical intervention, post-operative expectations, potential risks and complications, what to expect before, during and after surgery and recovery and rehabilitation, Participants will be given up to 30 minutes to read the content. Patients will have an interpreter present and available for any questions that may arise. In order to monitor adherence to the intervention, patients will be supervised by research staff and a timer set to 30minutes will be used to track the period of reading and viewing the content.

Locations(1)

Western Hospital - Footscray - Footscray

VIC, Australia

View Full Details on ANZCTR

For the most up-to-date information, visit the official listing.

Visit

ACTRN12624001114538