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Local
Research in Consultation Issues
Communication Skills
Doctor-Patient Relationship
Patient Satisfaction
Appraisal of communication skills and patients'
satisfaction in cross-language encounters in oncology practice.
Ibrahim EM,
Al-Saad R,
Wishi AL,
Khafaga YM,
El Hussainy G,
Nabhan A,
Ezzat AA,
Ajarim DS,
Bazarbashi S,
Radwi A,
Al-Amro A.
King Faisal Specialist Hospitals and Research Centers Department of Oncology,
Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ezzibrahim@kfshrc.edu.sa
OBJECTIVE: Communication skills are the most important determinant of
patients' satisfaction with care. Data about the adverse effects of
cross-language encounters are scarce. This prospective study was designed to
examine the association between the communication language and patients'
satisfaction in oncology practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The Art of Medicine
questionnaire was used to assess patients' perceptions of clinicians'
communication behaviors and patients' global satisfaction. Mean scores of
patients cared for by Arabic-speaking oncologists were compared with those of
patients who had communications translated from English by interpreters.
RESULTS: 255 patients were eligible. Patients' median age was 44 years (95% CI,
42.8-46.2). Communication was in Arabic and interpreted English for 136 (53%)
and 119 (47%) patients, respectively. The two groups were comparable for various
demographic and clinical variables. On a nine-point scale, mean scores for the
eight questionnaire items ranged from 6.24 (95% CI, 5.91-6.56) to 8.24 (95% CI,
8.03-8.45). There was no significant difference in communication skills between
Arabic- and English-speaking clinicians for any questionnaire item. Moreover, a
multiple regression analysis failed to identify any variable that independently
influenced overall patients' satisfaction with the delivered care. CONCLUSIONS:
The findings do not support a disadvantageous effect on interpersonal skills and
patients' satisfaction as a result of cross-language communication.
PMID: 12556059 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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Cultural
differences: practising medicine in an Islamic country.
Al-Kassimi M.
King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. makassimi@hotmail.com
Islam and Muslims have been in the headlines recently for one reason or
another. But the practice of medicine in an Islamic conservative country such
as Saudi Arabia has not been adequately reported. Many questions about
cultural differences in the practice of medicine have been directed at me by
non-Muslim colleagues. Below, I have tried to answer some of them after
practising at a university hospital in Saudi Arabia for the last 25 years.
PMID: 12617415 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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Communication with the seriously ill:
physicians' attitudes in Saudi Arabia.
Mobeireek AF,
al-Kassimi FA,
al-Majid SA,
al-Shimemry A.
King Saud University, Rtyadh, Saudi Arabia.
OBJECTIVES: To study some ethical problems created by accession of a
previously nomadic and traditional society to modern invasive medicine, by
assessment of physicians' attitudes towards sharing information and
decision-making with patients in the setting of a serious illness. DESIGN:
Self-completion questionnaire administered in 1993. SETTING: Riyadh, Jeddah,
and Buraidah, three of the largest cities in Saudi Arabia. SURVEY SAMPLE:
Senior and junior physicians from departments of internal medicine and
critical care in six hospitals in the above cities. RESULTS: A total of 249
physicians participated in the study. Less than half (47%) indicated they
provided information on diagnosis and prognosis of serious illnesses all the
time. Physicians who were more senior and those who spoke Arabic fared better
than other groups. The majority (75%) preferred to discuss information with
close relatives rather than patients, even when the patients were mentally
competent. Most of the physicians (72%) felt patients had the right to refuse
a specific treatment modality, and 68% denied patients the right to demand
such a treatment if considered futile. Further analysis showed that
physicians' attitudes varied along a spectrum from passive (25%) to
paternalistic (21%) with the largest group (47%) in a balanced position.
CONCLUSIONS: In traditional societies where physicians are regarded as figures
of authority and family ties are important, there is a considerable shift of
access to information and decision-making from patients to their physicians
and relatives in a manner that threatens patients' autonomy. Ethical
principles, wider availability of invasive medical technology and a rise in
public awareness dictate an attitude change.
PMID: 8910780 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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A study of patient satisfaction with primary
health care services in Saudi Arabia.
Ali M el-S,
Mahmoud ME.
Department of Community and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud
University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Patient satisfaction is of value to primary health care providers. The main
objective of this study was to estimate patient satisfaction with respect to
primary health care services in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. Fourteen primary
health care centers were chosen randomly to represent various geographic areas
of Riyadh. Information was collected through a pre-tested questionnaire used
by thirty well-trained final year medical students. Systematic sampling of
family files was conducted and the household head was interviewed. Nine
hundred respondents were interviewed concerning their satisfaction with the
services delivered. The findings were as follows: 40% were dissatisfied. One
third of the dissatisfied expressed the view that the center was too far;
19.4% complained that the working hours of the center were not suitable; 38.9%
complained of the absence of specialty clinics; 19.4% had language barriers
with the physicians; 63.9% complained about delays at the center; 16.7% of the
satisfied and 38.9% of the dissatisfied complained that the physicians did not
satisfactorily explain their health problems and treatments. In 22.7% of the
dissatisfied category, physicians' explanations were neither clear nor
understandable. Among the satisfied, 74.6% said that primary health care
center was the first choice if they felt sick; 61.1% of the non-satisfied
category gave this response. The implications of these findings are discussed,
and recommendations are given to rectify certain problems.
PMID: 8450093 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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A study of patient satisfaction as an
evaluation parameter for utilization of primary health care services.
el Shabrawy Ali M.
Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud
University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Patient satisfaction is of value to primary health care authorities. The main
objective of this study was to estimate patient satisfaction with respect to
primary health care services in Riyadh City. 14 primary health care centres
were chosen randomly to represent geographic areas of Riyadh. Information was
collected through a pre-tested questionnaire conducted by 30 well-trained
final year medical students. Systematic sampling of family files was conducted
and the household head was interviewed. 900 respondents were interviewed
concerning their satisfaction with the services delivered. 40% were
dissatisfied. One third of the dissatisfied said that the centre was too far
away: 19.4% complained that the working hours of the centre were not suitable:
38.9% complained about the absence of specialty clinics: 19.4% had language
barriers with the physicians: 63.9% complained about the delay in the centre:
16.7% of the satisfied and 38.9% of the dissatisfied complained that the
physicians do not explain to them their health problems and their treatment.
In 22.7% of the non-satisfied category, physician's explanations were neither
clear nor understandable. The Primary Health Care Centre will be the first
choice if they feel sick for 74.6% of the satisfied category and 61.1% for the
non-satisfied category. Implications of the findings are discussed and
recommendations are given to rectify certain situations.
PMID: 1573624 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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Do interpreters affect consultations?
Dodd W.
Mass migration leads to problems with language and cultural integration and
has significant medical implications. The effect of interpreters on the
diagnosis of mental diseases and ill-defined conditions was investigated in
the primary care department of the Riyadh Al Kharj Hospital Programme, Saudi
Arabia. Two groups of general practitioners working in the same health centre
with the same patients were compared--10 Arabic-speaking and 10
non-Arabic-speaking. No differences in diagnosis were found that could be
attributed to the use of interpreters, although there was a significant
difference between experienced and less experienced doctors. The reasons for
this finding are discussed, along with suggestions for the organization of an
interpreting service.
PMID: 6530062 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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Somatization in Saudi Women: a therapeutic
challenge.
Racy J.
Clinical experience with women in strictly controlled socially inferior
positions in Saudi Arabia illustrates how somatic complaints can express
emotional problems which have no other outlets. The women are passive and for
therapy to succeed an alliance with a male relative is necessary. Measures to
combat passivity can be of great benefit.
Publication Types:
PMID: 7437655 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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