NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Back to results
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Direct linkDirect link
ERIC Number: EJ984056
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0090-9882
EISSN: N/A
Divergent Perspectives on Language-Discordant Mobile Medical Professionals' Communication with Colleagues: An Exploratory Study
Gasiorek, Jessica; van de Poel, Kris
Journal of Applied Communication Research, v40 n4 p368-383 2012
Little is known about how language-discordant mobile medical professionals (MMPs), defined as doctors who work in foreign countries, cultures, and languages, interact with their colleagues. The number of MMPs around the world is growing, and their interactions with colleagues have direct consequences for both patients' health and their own professional success. We examine the communication of MMPs in five Western European countries from the perspective of MMPs themselves (n=134) and that of their (native) colleagues (n=54). Participants agreed that MMPs could use additional training related to everyday medical language, fluency, idioms, pronunciation, humor, and local dialects. Beyond this, however, assessments diverged: MMPs generally felt confident in their communication skills (and thought others saw them as competent), but their colleagues reported a number of concerns including difficulty with small talk, nonverbal communication, and observance of (related) local cultural norms. We propose that communication training programs targeting MMPs should specifically address communication with colleagues, and should include instruction about language-related issues, and explicit discussion of local cultural norms and expectations.
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Belgium; Denmark; Germany; Italy; Sweden
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A