# Information Visualization to Improve Pain Communication Between Providers, Interpreters, and Patients with Limited English Proficiency

> **NIH NIH K23** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2020 · $160,338

## Abstract

Abstract
Communication differences between patients, interpreters, and providers contribute to health disparities,
especially for U.S. populations with limited English proficiency (LEP; defined as being unable to read, write, or
speak English), in the context of pain. Currently, no patient-interpreter-provider pain communication
interventions exist to address LEP patient culture and language barriers in pain reporting. My career goal is to
establish an independent patient-oriented research program that focuses on designing, implementing, and
testing information visualization (InfoViz) tools to improve symptom communication among LEP patients,
interpreters, and providers, with the goal of ultimately improving quality of life and reducing health disparities.
This K23 award will provide me with advanced skills in (1) InfoViz evaluation, (2) symptoms (pain) science, (3)
intervention research, and (4) professional development to successfully transition into an independent
investigator. The research environment at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the interdisciplinary
mentoring team including Drs. Kristine Kwekkeboom (pain and symptom management, intervention research),
Suzanne Bakken (information visualization evaluation), Toby Campbell (patient-provider communication),
Roger Brown (statistical methods), and David Rabago (pain, primary care), provide an exceptional scientific
environment and mentorship. The purpose is to modify and conduct a pilot test of a tailored pain assessment
InfoViz tool to facilitate patient-interpreter-provider triad communication of pain severity, location, and quality to
increase mutual understanding (MU) during pain assessment. LEP Hmong will be the focus of this study
because pain is particularly problematic for this group; they describe pain using visual metaphors that are
inconsistent with providers’ knowledge and interpreters struggle to translate metaphors accurately between
patients and providers. This innovative InfoViz tool will reduce cultural and language barriers among the triad
by (1) eliminating the need for patients to understand medical language or requiring providers and interpreters
to share the Hmong culture and language and (2) reducing the amount of skill needed for interpreting. The
specific aims are (1) to evaluate the pain assessment InfoViz tool via a participatory design approach with 45
Hmong patients (n = 30) and interpreters (n = 15) from the community; and (2) to pilot the pain assessment
InfoViz tool among LEP Hmong patients in primary care including (2a) to examine the feasibility of
implementing the tool, (2b) to explore congruency of the triads’ MU of pain severity, location, and quality, and
(2c) to evaluate outcome measures selected to capture satisfaction with communication, pain relief, and pain
interference and explore variables identified in the InfoViz tool conceptual framework. Aim 2 will use a static
group comparison design, collecting data from 20 patients under the usual c...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10155946
- **Project number:** 1K23NR019289-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** Maichou Lor
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $160,338
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-25 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10155946

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10155946, Information Visualization to Improve Pain Communication Between Providers, Interpreters, and Patients with Limited English Proficiency (1K23NR019289-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10155946. Licensed CC0.

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