QI Project Improving Anesthetic Consent in Non-English Speaking Patients at ZSFG

Global anesthesia, global health and anesthesia, global anesthesia fellowship, health equity, global surgery, surgical disease burden, public health

This summer, the UCSF Anesthesia Division of Global Health Equity (ADGHE) is conducting a quality improvement project to enhance the patient consent process and improve access to information, especially for non-English speaking patients. The perioperative period is stressful for all patients, during which they are expected to absorb complex information. This can be especially daunting for non-English speaking patients, who comprise a significant proportion of operative patients at ZSFG. With the support of a SURF grant, Drs. Laura Lang and Michael Lipnick helped design a series of animated videos in multiple languages for patients requiring any form of anesthesia care at ZSFG. In July and August 2019, ADGHE Fellow Elliot Wollner, Assistant Professor Dini Palaniappa, and ADGHE Summer Interns Vanessa Murillo and Margot Bickler are implementing the videos with preoperative patients at ZSFG and assessing the impact of these videos on the consent process and patients’ experiences. 

Thus far, five videos have been created (general, neuraxial, regional and obstetric anesthesia, as well as monitored anesthesia care) in three languages (English, Spanish, and Cantonese). These videos are intended to augment the informed consent process and enhance patient understanding of the anesthesia care plan. 

In addition to the existing oral and written consent process, patients will view these videos in the pre-op clinic and pre-op holding area. With feedback gathered from patients and providers about their experience with this pilot QI project, the team plans to further edit the videos, expand the number of languages offered and add subtitles. 

 

 

General Anesthesia (Spanish)
Sedation Anesthesia (Spanish)
Regional Anesthesia (Spanish)
Neuraxial Anesthesia (Spanish)
Obstetric Anesthesia (Spanish)

General Anesthesia (Cantonese)
Sedation Anesthesia (Cantonese)
Regional Anesthesia (Cantonese)
Neuraxial Anesthesia (Cantonese)
Obstetric Anesthesia (Cantonese)