Improving consultations in general practice for non English-speaking patients

Research1^,2 has shown that people forget a considerable amount of the information they are given in medical consultations, and that a significant amount of the information that is remembered will be incorrect.3 This can have consequences in terms of compliance with treatment regimes, frequent attendance, DNA rates and staff time in providing reminders and rescheduling appointments.

We piloted the use of digital recording devices (DRDs) in a general practice in Sheffield with a large percentage of Somali patients. All Somali patients needing an interpreter were invited to take part in the study and receive a personalised digital recording of information about their health to take home with them at the end of their consultation with a health professional. Participants were contacted 1 week later by trained interpreters who carried out a telephone questionnaire on acceptability and usage. In total 68 recording devices were given out and 58 people were interviewed.

Of the patients who took part, 81% were women, mainly aged >55 years. Older people and those with memory problems felt that the DRD was useful as they were aware that they forgot many things. The DRDs in this study were used mainly to record information about appointments and medication. People who were interviewed felt that they could be used to record anything that was relevant to their health.

The recording time limits the amount of information that can be stored on the DRDs. One minute is enough to record summary information or details of medication, but if longer explanations are required or a patient is on multiple medications it is not sufficient.

The DRDs can be re-used but their re-use is dependent on patients returning with them at their next appointment. There could be a danger in giving patients multiple devices as messages could get out of date or mixed up. Some form of labelling on the outside of the device could overcome this.

The DRDs used in this pilot were reliable, used frequently and found to be acceptable. It is possible to see that a small investment in DRDs could have an impact on attendance rates and compliance with prescribed medication that, in turn, could contribute to reducing any waste of NHS resources. The cost of the DRDs needs to be considered against the above patient benefits.

• © British Journal of General Practice, 2006.