Erik Skjeggestad1, Jennifer Gerwing2, Pål Gulbrandsen3. 1. HØKH, Health Services Research Unit, Akershus University Hospital, Pb.1000, 1478 Lørenskog, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, Campus Ahus, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: erik.skjeggestad@ahus.no. 2. HØKH, Health Services Research Unit, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway. 3. Institute of Clinical Medicine, Campus Ahus, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; HØKH, Health Services Research Unit, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore how language barriers influence communication and collaboration between newly-employed international medical doctors and Norwegian health personnel. METHODS: Interviews were conducted with 16 doctors who had recently started working in Norway and 12 Norwegian born health personnel who had extensive experience working with international medical doctors. Analyses were consistent with principles of systematic text condensation. RESULTS: All participants experienced that language barriers caused difficulties in their everyday collaboration. Furthermore, the participants' descriptions of "language barriers" encompassed a wide range of topics, including semantics (e.g., specialized professional vocabulary, system knowledge), pragmatics (e.g., using language in doctor-patient and interprofessional interactions), and specific culturally sensitive topics. All participants described that language barriers provoked uncertainty about a doctor's competence. CONCLUSION: Newly employed international medical doctors and their colleagues are concerned by ineffective communication due to language barriers. Experiences of language barriers threaten professional identity as a competent and effective doctor. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Newly employed doctors who are non-native speakers could benefit from support in understanding and handling the array of barriers related to language.
OBJECTIVE: To explore how language barriers influence communication and collaboration between newly-employed international medical doctors and Norwegian health personnel. METHODS: Interviews were conducted with 16 doctors who had recently started working in Norway and 12 Norwegian born health personnel who had extensive experience working with international medical doctors. Analyses were consistent with principles of systematic text condensation. RESULTS: All participants experienced that language barriers caused difficulties in their everyday collaboration. Furthermore, the participants' descriptions of "language barriers" encompassed a wide range of topics, including semantics (e.g., specialized professional vocabulary, system knowledge), pragmatics (e.g., using language in doctor-patient and interprofessional interactions), and specific culturally sensitive topics. All participants described that language barriers provoked uncertainty about a doctor's competence. CONCLUSION: Newly employed international medical doctors and their colleagues are concerned by ineffective communication due to language barriers. Experiences of language barriers threaten professional identity as a competent and effective doctor. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Newly employed doctors who are non-native speakers could benefit from support in understanding and handling the array of barriers related to language.