Interpreter Communication Quality in Cognitive Assessments for Dementia

Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies

At baseline, there were 126 participants (106 [84.1%] women); mean (SD) age was 44.13 (12.71) years, mean years of interpreting experience was 8.57 (8.48) years, and 106 of 120 (88.3%) lived in an urban area. A total of 22 (17.5%) were Arabic interpreters; 14 (11.1%), Cantonese; 6 (4.8%), Greek; 14 (11.1%), Italian; 64 (50.8%), Mandarin; and 6 (4.8%), Vietnamese. The primary outcome of communication quality in the main analysis did not significantly improve in the intervention group compared with controls (mean score difference, 2.10; 95% CI, -0.43 to 4.62; P = .10). Per-protocol findings showed a significant intervention effect (mean score difference, 2.73; 95% CI, 0.14-5.31; P = .04), suggesting that the MINDSET-trained interpreters benefited in the primary outcome when they completed at least 70% of the training. Of the 5 domains, a significant intervention effect was shown in only domain 1 (knowledge of dementia) in the main analysis (mean score difference, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.54-1.77; P < .001) and per-protocol analysis (1.03; 95% CI, 0.27-1.79; P = .008) at 3 months. Conclusions and Relevance: In this randomized clinical trial, results of the primary, intention-to-treat analysis showed that interpreters' overall interpreting communication quality did not improve in the intervention group compared with controls, but in the secondary, per-protocol analysis, it was improved when at least 70% of the training was completed. These findings suggest that an online training intervention can improve interpreters' communication quality during cognitive assessments for dementia if at least 70% of training is completed. Trial Registration: ANZCTR Identifier: ACTRN12621001281886.

Key findings

• At baseline, there were 126 participants (106 [84.1%] women); mean (SD) age was 44.13 (12.71) years, mean years of interpreting experience was 8.57 (8.48) years, and 106 of 120 (88.3%) lived in an urban area.
• A total of 22 (17.5%) were Arabic interpreters; 14 (11.1%), Cantonese; 6 (4.8%), Greek; 14 (11.1%), Italian; 64 (50.8%), Mandarin; and 6 (4.8%), Vietnamese.
• The primary outcome of communication quality in the main analysis did not significantly improve in the intervention group compared with controls (mean score difference, 2.10; 95% CI, -0.43 to 4.62; P = .10).
• Per-protocol findings showed a significant intervention effect (mean score difference, 2.73; 95% CI, 0.14-5.31; P = .04), suggesting that the MINDSET-trained interpreters benefited in the primary outcome when they completed at least 70% of the training.
• Of the 5 domains, a significant intervention effect was shown in only domain 1 (knowledge of dementia) in the main analysis (mean score difference, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.54-1.77; P < .001) and per-protocol analysis (1.03; 95% CI, 0.27-1.79; P = .008) at 3 months.

Why it matters

This trial tested training for interpreters who conduct cognitive assessments for dementia, and the main analysis found no significant improvement in overall communication quality compared with controls. A per-protocol analysis suggested benefit for interpreters who completed at least 70% of the training, and knowledge of dementia improved significantly.

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Study details

• Participants126
• Effect size84.1%; 88.3%; 17.5%
• Evidence strengthHigh

Read the original

• DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.58069
• PubMed: 39937478
• Original source →
• Free full text: JAMA Network Open →

Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).

@article{brijnath2025-39937478,
  author  = {Brijnath, Bianca and Markusevska, Simona and Enticott, Joanne and Sethi, Parneet and Gilbert, Andrew Simon and González, Erika and Hlavač, Jim and Low, Lee‐Fay and others},
  title   = {{Interpreter Communication Quality in Cognitive Assessments for Dementia}},
  journal = {JAMA Network Open},
  year    = {2025},
  doi     = {10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.58069},
  pmid    = {39937478},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.58069}
}

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