Towards patient-centred style of communication: A cultural-pragmatic study of doctor-patient consultative encounters at general hospital, Ile-Oluji, Ondo State, Nigeria
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Date
2022
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Cogent Arts & Humanities
Abstract
Medical humanities, as a sub-field in humanities, provide a ground for an in-depth study of medical practices’ narratives or discourses through linguistic and non-linguistic approaches. No doubt, most doctors, in Nigeria or other developing countries, were trained in the context of a doctor-centred style of communication. In recent times, the call for patient-centred discourse engagement in the hospitals has prompted attention, among scholars, to consider the best skills that could enhance and sustain such. It was, therefore, imperative to investigate the influence of socio-cultural contexts on doctor-patient consultative encounters in hospitals. Eight doctor-patient consultative encounters at General Hospital, Ile-Oluji, Ondo State, Nigeria, were purposively selected. The data were analysed through the linguistic approach of cultural pragmatics. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods in the analysis. As such, a questionnaire was designed to elicit information on doctors’ perceptions of a patient-centred style of communication. It was discovered socio-cultural context of both patients and doctors influence discourse engagement during consultation. Also, doctors are fast to adopt a doctor-centred style based on the belief that patients may not provide sufficient details needed for an appropriate diagnosis. This study, therefore, concludes that a patient-centred style of communication is appropriate and helpful in the hospital if the doctors have detailed knowledge and comprehension of the patient’s socio-cultural context.
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Keywords
Culture, Context, Medicine, Discourse
Citation
Akinkurolere, S. O. (2022). Towards patient-centred style of communication: A cultural-pragmatic study of doctor-patient consultative encounters at general hospital, Ile-Oluji, Ondo State, Nigeria. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 9(1), 2124724.https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2022.2124724