Western Health and the CSIRO have developed a new, free mobile app that will help support integral COVID-19 screening efforts with patients from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.
The CALD Assist app was initially developed in 2017 to support communication between CALD patients and healthcare workers including nurses, dietitians, speech pathologists, podiatrists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. The Victorian Government contributed $454,000 to the development of the app.
CALD Assist features more than 200 commonly used phrases translated into 10 languages – Arabic, Cantonese, Croatian, Greek, Italian, Macedonian, Mandarin, Serbian, Spanish and Vietnamese – supported by images, video and pre-recorded audio.
A new update to the app allows non-English speakers to be asked COVID-19 screening questions, where interpreters are unavailable, and is designed for use by all health professionals involved with COVID-19 screening, including doctors.
- The app includes non-medical questions and statements like:
- Have you returned to Australia from overseas in the past 4 weeks?
- Have you tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 14 days?
- After your test today, you will need to self-isolate until you receive your COVID-19 result
- Please put a mask on and return straight home
Western Health Executive Director Operations, Natasha Toohey, said while the CALD Assist app was designed to complement – not replace – the work of interpreters, it had an important role to play.
“Clear communication is vital to providing quality health care – at all times, not only during a pandemic,” Ms Toohey said.
“Western Health is very proud of the CALD Assist app and its success in helping facilitate communication with people from non-English speaking communities, and we’re thrilled it is now equipped to guide them through the COVID-19 screening process.”
Deputy Director of CSIRO’s Australian eHealth Research Centre, Dr Jill Freyne, said the app was trialled with allied health clinicians and nursing staff to ensure its clinical value.
“Supporting CALD communities through the pandemic is an important part of the public health response,” Dr Freyne said.
“The beauty of the app is that it can be used in different settings including hospital patients and visitors and in COVID-19 testing centres.
“Patients also have the flexibility to choose whether to read or listen to the screening questions.”
Western Health’s Infectious Diseases, speech pathology and interpreting teams have combined to compose, translate and give voice to the COVID-19 questions on the app.
Victorian Minister for Health, Martin Foley, congratulated Western Health and CSIRO for innovating through the pandemic and finding new ways to support culturally and linguistically diverse patients.
“Western Health and all our health services have done amazing work responding to this global pandemic and evolving how they care for and engage with patients,” Mr Foley said.
“This app is already supporting patients and will now complement the work of translators in ensuring vital information about a person’s likelihood of coronavirus infection reaches our healthcare workers fast.”
