Physicians' Use of Local Dialects during Communication with Patients / General Medicine
General Medicine
;
: 13-19, 2008.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-376350
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate Japanese physicians' use of dialects related to geographic areas and to elucidate how physicians respond to dialect-using patients.<BR>METHODS:
We conducted a web-based open survey, to which 170 anonymous physicians reported. We examined the following 1) whether dialects are used during communication with patients; 2) how to communicate with patients using dialects; and, 3) reasons for having difficulty in communicating with patients who regularly use dialects. Geographical areas were divided into the following 8 areas Hokkaido-Tohoku, Kanto, Koshinetsu-Hokuriku, Tokai, Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu-Okinawa.<BR>RESULTS:
Of 170 physicians, 61.2% (95% CI 53.4-68.5%) reported using dialects. These proportions differed by geographic area (F= 8.141; p<0.001) . Physicians practicing in Shikoku and Chugoku used dialects most frequently, while those practicing in Kanto and Hokkaido-Tohoku used dialects least frequently. Many dialect-using physicians thought that physicians should use the same dialect as dialect-using patients. In addition, dialect-using physicians were more likely to think that a physician-related factor was responsible for having difficulty in garnering clinical information.<BR>CONCLUSIONS:
Use of dialects by Japanese physicians during communication with patients seems common and may differ by geographic areas. Physicians' use of dialects could be a useful tool for effective clinical communication.
Search on Google
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Language:
English
Journal:
General Medicine
Year:
2008
Type:
Article
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS