Detection of depression with different interpreting methods among Chinese and Latino primary care patients: a randomized controlled trial. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Language barriers may contribute to the under-detection of depression in Latinos and Asians. A total of 782 English, Spanish, and Chinese-speaking primary care patients were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial. Language discordant patients were randomized to Remote Simultaneous Medical Interpreting (RSMI) or usual and customary (U&C) interpreting. The Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Screen (BDI-FS) was administered. Patients were tracked for 1 year. A total of 462 patients completed the BDI-FS. Thirty-three percent had a positive (> or = 4) screen. Twenty-seven percent of BDI-FS positive patients were diagnosed with depression. Among BDI-FS positive patients, Chinese-speakers were less likely to be diagnosed compared with English speakers (31% vs. 10%, P < 0.05). There was a trend towards greater diagnosis with RSMI (27% detection with RSMI vs. 20% U&C, P = 0.41). The diagnosis of depression among BDI-FS positive patients in our population was low, particularly among Chinese-speakers. RSMI could be an important part of a multi-faceted approach to improving the detection of depression.

publication date

  • April 1, 2010

Research

keywords

  • Asian
  • Communication Barriers
  • Depression
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Primary Health Care

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC5724778

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 77954564119

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1192/apt.8.5.342

PubMed ID

  • 19408119

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 12

issue

  • 2