Assessment of Language Barriers Between Dental Students and Patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-A Mixed Methods Study

Area of Science:

• Oral Health
• Medical Education
• Health Communication

Background:

• Language barriers significantly impede access to dental services.
• Complex dental terminology unfamiliar to patients causes confusion.
• Misunderstandings arise when dental students use technical terms patients do not comprehend.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess language barriers between dental students and patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• To identify specific dental terms causing communication difficulties.
• To explore the impact of educational level on patient understanding of dental terminology.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods research design utilizing focus group interviews.
• Data collected from 40 dental students and 40 patients in Riyadh.
• Interviews conducted using a comprehensive topic guide with predetermined questions.

Main Results:

• Students struggled explaining terms like 'crown lengthening' (72.5%) and 'periodontitis' (67.5%).
• Patients had limited understanding of 'interim removable dental prosthesis' (65%) and 'fixed dental prosthesis' (60%).
• Patient educational level significantly impacted understanding of terms like 'interim dental prosthesis' and 'removable dental prosthesis.'

Conclusions:

• Language discordance, even within the same native language, hinders effective dental communication.
• Students' difficulty explaining procedures leads to incomplete patient comprehension and potential non-compliance.
• Recommendations include incorporating Arabic dental terms, developing bilingual glossaries, and using visual aids.