A Study of Language Interpretation Solutions for People With Breast Cancer

Launched by MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER · Dec 3, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at different ways to help Spanish- and Mandarin-speaking patients with breast cancer communicate with their doctors when they have trouble speaking English. The study is divided into two phases. In the first phase, researchers will compare three methods of interpretation during appointments: Remote Simultaneous Medical Interpreting (where the interpreter translates the conversation in real-time), Remote Consecutive Medical Interpreting (where the interpreter translates after the doctor and patient speak), and Remote Consecutive Video Medical Interpreting (which uses video to connect the patient with an interpreter). The goal is to see which method helps patients understand their care best.

To participate, you must be at least 18 years old, speak either Spanish or Mandarin as your preferred language, and have been diagnosed with Stage II or III breast cancer in the last two months. You also need to have completed your first appointment with your medical oncologist and continue your visits at the study clinic. Participants will be audio-recorded during the sessions to help researchers gather information. The study is currently recruiting participants, and it's an opportunity to help improve communication for others in the future.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Phase I Patients
• • Age \>=18 years (per EMR)
• • Preferred language for healthcare is Spanish or Mandarin (per self-report)
• • Limited English Proficient; cannot speak English "very well" (per self-report)
• • Diagnosis of Stage I, II, III, or IV breast cancer (per EMR)
• • Will be visiting MSK oncologist for the first or second appointment (per EMR)
• • Will be continuing medical oncology visits at MSK (per EMR)
• • Agrees to be audio-recorded (per self-report)
• • Phase 1 Providers
• • Breast cancer provider who sees patients (e.g., breast oncologists, advanced practice providers, and/or nurses)
• • Does not speak Spanish and/or Mandarin; providers who speak one language and not the other may participate (e.g., speaks Spanish but not Mandarin) (per self-report)
• • Agrees to be audio-record (per self-report) Phase 2 (clinic staff only; patient participants will be drawn from Phase 1)
• • Is a staff member who works/worked in one of the study clinic sites during the period of Phase 1 RCT study activities
• • Agrees to be audio-recorded (per self-report)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Phase 1 Patients
• • Has significant psychiatric disturbance (i.e., acute psychiatric symptoms) sufficient to preclude completion of the assessments, interviews, or informed consent (per EMR, patient's care team, or study team)
• • Presence of cognitive impairment disorder (i.e., delirium or dementia) sufficient to preclude meaningful informed consent and/or data collection (per EMR, patients, care team, or study team)
• • Phase I Providers
• • None
• • Phase 2 (clinic staff only; Phase 1 patient participants follow above criteria)
• • None