Language as a tool in medicine: methodology and theoretical framework

Area of Science:

• Medical communication
• Linguistics in healthcare
• Doctor-patient dialogue analysis

Background:

• Language is the primary tool for information exchange between doctors and patients.
• Effective medical care necessitates a deep understanding of language use in clinical settings.
• Analyzing doctor-patient conversations is key to improving healthcare communication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a framework for studying language as a tool in medicine.
• To identify essential linguistic components for successful doctor-patient communication.
• To develop a curriculum for medical students focused on communication skills.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of a large corpus of naturally recorded doctor-patient conversations.
• Development of a cataloging system for efficient access to recorded dialogue segments.
• Linguistic analysis based on a framework identifying seven levels of information.

Main Results:

• A systematic framework for analyzing medical language has been established.
• Seven levels of linguistic information, beyond social conventions, are identified as critical for effective communication.
• A method for rapid access to specific conversational segments was created.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the nuances of language in medicine is vital for patient care.
• The proposed framework and identified linguistic levels can enhance medical communication strategies.
• Educational programs incorporating this framework can improve medical students' listening and speaking skills.