Translating Anesthetic Care Throughout: A Feasibility Randomized Trial

Patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) are at significant risk of receiving care different from those who are English proficient. Through Translating Anesthetic Care Throughout (TACT), the investigators aim to reduce the disparities experienced by participants with LEP undergoing anesthesia by continuing language translation from the preoperative area into the operating room, where participants will be better able to understand what is happening in an otherwise foreign environment. At this time, some participants receive translation in the preoperative area using an interpreter. No further translation is provided beyond the preoperative area unless there is a provider with language concordance or interpretation skills within the perioperative team. The investigators plan to study how extended translation changes a participant's understanding of and feelings about the perioperative period. Supporting language translation for LEP participants from the preoperative area into their operating room (OR) experience will enable providers to better understand how to care for participants from different cultural and language backgrounds and will help us understand how to better serve our community at large. The investigators hypothesize that participants who receive continual translation will have improved informed consent, have improved trust of their anesthesia providers, and be more satisfied with patient care. In addition, they anticipate that the care team also will benefit by the enhanced communication with the participant.