Local language proficiency of fourth-year medical students at the University of the Free State
Background: Language proficiency is beneficial for doctor–patient communication and health outcomes. Poor communication can lead to misdiagnosis by the doctor and/or non-adherence from the patient. This study aimed to evaluate medical students’ proficiency in the most commonly spoken local languages...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AOSIS
2023-12-01
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| Series: | South African Family Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5800 |
| _version_ | 1797359269464506368 |
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| author | Peter Ngobeni Maleho Sebolai Licham Hlotshana Tshwanelo Henani Siphosomusa Masango Smangaliso Hlongwane Samkelo Ngqulu Thabelo Makhaba Carl van Ramesdonk Gina Joubert |
| author_facet | Peter Ngobeni Maleho Sebolai Licham Hlotshana Tshwanelo Henani Siphosomusa Masango Smangaliso Hlongwane Samkelo Ngqulu Thabelo Makhaba Carl van Ramesdonk Gina Joubert |
| author_sort | Peter Ngobeni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Language proficiency is beneficial for doctor–patient communication and health outcomes. Poor communication can lead to misdiagnosis by the doctor and/or non-adherence from the patient. This study aimed to evaluate medical students’ proficiency in the most commonly spoken local languages.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the class of 119 fourth-year medical students at the University of the Free State (UFS) in 2019. Students’ proficiency was tested for Sesotho and Afrikaans, as these are the most widely spoken languages in the Free State province. The study consisted of two phases: completing a self-administered questionnaire where students self-rated their proficiency in the two languages, followed by telephonic interviews consisting of a series of proficiency-testing questions.
Results: Of the 119 fourth-year medical students at UFS, 96 (80.7%) completed the self-administered questionnaires. Forty-six students (47.9%) rated themselves as either advanced or proficient in Afrikaans, whereas only 23 students (23.9%) rated themselves as advanced or proficient in Sesotho. Only 28 students were subsequently interviewed. Their actual language proficiency matched their self-rating.
Conclusion: The findings suggest a need for language skills training improvement in the curriculum for undergraduate medical students for languages most commonly encountered locally. We also found that students report their language capabilities accurately.
Contribution: The research findings reinforce the need for language skills training in the curriculum of undergraduate medical students regarding languages commonly encountered in the local area. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:14:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8171272b838f429ab3c97e23a622c263 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2078-6190 2078-6204 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:14:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-8171272b838f429ab3c97e23a622c2632024-01-10T13:11:02ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042023-12-01651e1e610.4102/safp.v65i1.58004368Local language proficiency of fourth-year medical students at the University of the Free StatePeter Ngobeni0Maleho Sebolai1Licham Hlotshana2Tshwanelo Henani3Siphosomusa Masango4Smangaliso Hlongwane5Samkelo Ngqulu6Thabelo Makhaba7Carl van Ramesdonk8Gina Joubert9Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinDepartment of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinDepartment of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinDepartment of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinDepartment of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinDepartment of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinDepartment of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinDepartment of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinDepartment of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinDepartment of Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinBackground: Language proficiency is beneficial for doctor–patient communication and health outcomes. Poor communication can lead to misdiagnosis by the doctor and/or non-adherence from the patient. This study aimed to evaluate medical students’ proficiency in the most commonly spoken local languages. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the class of 119 fourth-year medical students at the University of the Free State (UFS) in 2019. Students’ proficiency was tested for Sesotho and Afrikaans, as these are the most widely spoken languages in the Free State province. The study consisted of two phases: completing a self-administered questionnaire where students self-rated their proficiency in the two languages, followed by telephonic interviews consisting of a series of proficiency-testing questions. Results: Of the 119 fourth-year medical students at UFS, 96 (80.7%) completed the self-administered questionnaires. Forty-six students (47.9%) rated themselves as either advanced or proficient in Afrikaans, whereas only 23 students (23.9%) rated themselves as advanced or proficient in Sesotho. Only 28 students were subsequently interviewed. Their actual language proficiency matched their self-rating. Conclusion: The findings suggest a need for language skills training improvement in the curriculum for undergraduate medical students for languages most commonly encountered locally. We also found that students report their language capabilities accurately. Contribution: The research findings reinforce the need for language skills training in the curriculum of undergraduate medical students regarding languages commonly encountered in the local area.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5800communicationlanguageproficiencymedicinestudentpatienthealth care |
| spellingShingle | Peter Ngobeni Maleho Sebolai Licham Hlotshana Tshwanelo Henani Siphosomusa Masango Smangaliso Hlongwane Samkelo Ngqulu Thabelo Makhaba Carl van Ramesdonk Gina Joubert Local language proficiency of fourth-year medical students at the University of the Free State South African Family Practice communication language proficiency medicine student patient health care |
| title | Local language proficiency of fourth-year medical students at the University of the Free State |
| title_full | Local language proficiency of fourth-year medical students at the University of the Free State |
| title_fullStr | Local language proficiency of fourth-year medical students at the University of the Free State |
| title_full_unstemmed | Local language proficiency of fourth-year medical students at the University of the Free State |
| title_short | Local language proficiency of fourth-year medical students at the University of the Free State |
| title_sort | local language proficiency of fourth year medical students at the university of the free state |
| topic | communication language proficiency medicine student patient health care |
| url | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5800 |
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