Hearts in their hands-Physicians' gestures embodying shared professional knowledge around the world

Area of Science:

• Medical Sociology
• Communication in Healthcare
• Nonverbal Communication

Background:

• The biomedical approach to medical knowledge is globally dominant.
• Physician-patient interaction, including nonverbal cues, is crucial for effective healthcare.
• Limited research exists on the cross-cultural use of gestures in medical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the global commonality of physician gestures in patient interactions.
• To compare gesture use across different cultural contexts (Turkey, China, Netherlands, Germany).
• To understand how gestures facilitate knowledge transfer and interaction in healthcare.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of physician-patient interactions in four university hospitals.
• Focus on discussions about heart failure with simulated patients.
• Observation and analysis of physicians' use of gestures.

Main Results:

• Physicians in all four countries used similar gestures during patient consultations.
• Gestures were vital for organizing interaction and transferring medical knowledge.
• Common gestures included creating 'anatomical maps' and visual models of physiological processes.
• Metaphorical gestures mirroring biomedical language were observed globally.

Conclusions:

• Physician gestures demonstrate the embodied, global nature of biomedical knowledge.
• Shared gestural patterns facilitate effective communication and understanding in diverse healthcare settings.
• Nonverbal communication, specifically gestures, plays a significant role in global medical practice.