Grunt language versus accent: the perceived communication barriers between international medical graduates and patients in Central Wheatbelt catchments

Abstract

Due to the chronic shortages of GPs in Australian rural and remote regions, considerable numbers of international medical graduates (IMG) have been recruited. IMG experience many difficulties when relocating to Australia with one of the most significant being effective GP-patient communication. Given that this is essential for effective consultation it can have a substantial impact on health care. A purposive sample of seven practising GPs (five IMG, two Australian-trained doctors (ATD)) was interviewed using a semistructured face-to-face interviewing technique. GPs from Nigeria, Egypt, United Kingdom, India, Singapore and Australia participated. Interviews were transcribed and then coded. The authors used qualitative thematic analysis of interview transcripts to identify common themes. IMG-patient communication barriers were considered significant in the Wheatbelt region as identified by both IMG and ATD. ATD indicated they were aware of IMG-patient communication issues resulting in subsequent consults with patients to explain results and diagnoses. Significantly, a lack of communication between ATD and IMG also emerged, creating a further barrier to effective communication. Analysis of the data generated several important findings that rural GP networks should consider when integrating new IMG into the community. Addressing the challenges related to cross-cultural differences should be a priority, in order to enable effective communication. More open communication between ATD and IMG about GP-patient communication barriers and education programs around GP-patient communication would help both GP and patient satisfaction.

International medical graduate doctor to doctor telephone communication: A genre perspective

“…Difficulties with language have been commented on in the literature and accent is one area that has been discussed as a barrier to effective communication for IMGs (Dorgan, Lang, Floyd, & Kemp, 2009;Hoekje,2007 ;Sommer, Macdonald, Bulsara, & Lim, 2012;Tipton, 2005;Woodward-Kron, Stevens, & Flynn, 2011). However, explicit misunderstandings due to pronunciation problems were very infrequent in this context.…”

Työelämän näkökulma maahanmuuttajataustaisten lääkärien kielitaitoon

“…Lisäksi on mahdollista, että lääkärin auktoriteetti-ja asiantuntija-asema potilaaseen nähden pitävät yllä tilanteen sujuvuutta kielellisistä epätarkkuuksista huolimatta. Poikkeama maahanmuuttajataustaisten lääkärien oman kielellisen pärjäämisen kokemuksen ja potilaiden kokemuksen välillä on todettu myös kansainvälisessä tutkimuksessa (8,18).…”

“…Aiemmissa tutkimuksissa kielitaitokysymystä on lähestytty esimerkiksi maahanmuuttajataustaisten lääkärien omasta näkökulmasta (8,16), potilaiden näkökulmasta (6,7) ja viranomaisten näkökulmasta (5,17). Tiedetään, että maahanmuuttajataustaisten lääkärien käsitys omasta kielitaidostaan saattaa erota potilaiden ja kollegoiden käsityksestä (8,18). Suomessa toteutettujen kyselytutkimusten mukaan maahanmuuttajataustaisilla lääkäreillä on hyvin myönteinen käsitys omasta kielitaidostaan erityisesti potilaskeskusteluissa (3,16).…”

International sore throat guidelines and international medical graduates: a mixed methods systematic review

“…20 Other Australian studies cited communication as a key problem for IMGs. [21][22][23] Different accents and cultural norms as well as colloquial language and idioms cause difficulty for IMGs. Additionally when the profession investigates poor practice, there has been an association with professional isolation and a lack of insight into behaviour.…”