Photo: Getty Images By Contributor 10th May 2021
Doctors whose first language is not English encounter particular problems in communication.
Prof Peter Gillen and
Dr Gozie Offiah describe how these medics can improve their empathy skills
I spoke recently at a webinar on communication skills in medicine. The webinar was hosted by the Irish-Pakistani Professional Association (IPPA), which was founded by Pakistani doctors in Ireland, one of whose aims is to enable the integration of Pakistani doctors into the Irish healthcare system by providing a range of educational supports.
The topic of communication skills in medicine was a direct result of a survey I had commissioned on doctors working in Ireland whose primary language is not English. At the outset of the webinar one of the hosts shared an amusing anecdote recounting his first encounter with an Irish patient. He recalled meeting an elderly gentleman from Connemara on his first working day here in Ireland. Enquirin
02 Jan 2021 - 9:16
The Peninsula
Doha: The impact of effective communication strategies on healthcare outcomes was explored by delegates from across the Mena region, Europe and the US at a virtual conference hosted by Weil Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q).
The Healthcare Communications in the Middle East conference brought together leading regional and international experts to share best practices, examine recent research, and discuss communication policies and standards in the healthcare systems of different countries.
The two-day event featured presentations, discussion sessions and four practical workshops on a wide range of issues, including the role of cultural competence training, current healthcare communications teaching strategies in Arabic-speaking countries, best practices for breaking bad news to patients and relatives, the impact of social media on healthcare communications, and health literacy in the Mena region. The course was co-directed by Dr. Alan Weber, Pr