title: Detection of depression with different interpreting methods among Chinese and Latino primary care patients: a randomized controlled trial.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Center for Immigrant Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA. lengj01@nyu.edu
authors.forename: Jennifer C F
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Leng
authors.forename: Jyotsna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Changrani
authors.forename: Chi-Hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gany
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003142:Communication; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult