Communication between doctors and immigrant patients

Much research has investigated communicative difficulties between local doctors and immigrant patients, and highlighted the extent to which cultural misunderstandings may create barriers to communication. In this context, verbal communication constitutes an instrument for exploring diversity and a means for achieving integration between different cultures, facilitating the process of integration between medical staff and migrants. The aim of our study was to investigate the extent to which patients from a variety of cultures were satisfied with communication with their doctor. In addition, the extent to which doctors were satisfied with communication with their patients was studied. Sixty people took part in the study. They were asked to respond to a questionnaire which they filled in themselves. Analysis of the results indicated that the extent to which patients were satisfied with communication with their doctor was significantly affected by the culture to which the patients belonged. The results also indicated that where the patient perceived difficulty in communication with the doctor, the doctor also perceived difficulty in communication with the patient. The questionnaire adopted could be useful for further research in this area and to facilitate a process of integration between staff and immigrants.