Abstract
Background
Patient-doctor communication is essential for achieving the best healthcare quality for the patients. Saudi Arabia hosts a variety of healthcare providers from diverse cultures and languages, making language barriers distinctive towards effective communication for a predominantly Arab population. There is limited research on the challenges associated with language barriers among non-native medical students. The current qualitative study aims to explore the perceptions and experiences of non-native medical students during clinical encounters with Arabic speaking patient population at a private university in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Methods
This is a qualitative case study employing non-native medical students in clinical years to explore their perceptions and experiences towards language barriers. Participants attended four focus group discussions, following a brief regarding the concept of the challenges that language barriers pose. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. A thematic framework analysis was employed to analyze the data.
Results
Twenty-two non-native medical students participated in the study. We identified four broad themes constituting problems in patient interaction, development of clinical skills, managing and overcoming language barriers, and student recommendations to overcome language barrier. Participants suggested improvements in available Arabic language courses and the introduction of a professional skills course in Arabic for non-native students.
Conclusion
Non-Native medical students perceived language barriers as an obstacle to a meaningful clinical experience. They identified implications for clinical learning environment, professionalism, empathy, and patient care. Recommendations for advanced occupation-related Arabic language courses to facilitate doctor-patient interactions were made to improve patient-student interactions between native patients and non-native medical students.