Physicians' Use of Local Dialects during Communication with Patients

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate Japanese physicians' use of dialects related to geographic areas and to elucidate how physicians respond to dialect-using patients.
METHODS: We conducted a web-based open survey, to which 170 anonymous physicians reported. We examined the following 1) whether dialects are used during communication with patients; 2) how to communicate with patients using dialects; and, 3) reasons for having difficulty in communicating with patients who regularly use dialects. Geographical areas were divided into the following 8 areas Hokkaido-Tohoku, Kanto, Koshinetsu-Hokuriku, Tokai, Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu-Okinawa.
RESULTS: Of 170 physicians, 61.2% (95% CI: 53.4-68.5%) reported using dialects. These proportions differed by geographic area (F= 8.141; p<0.001) . Physicians practicing in Shikoku and Chugoku used dialects most frequently, while those practicing in Kanto and Hokkaido-Tohoku used dialects least frequently. Many dialect-using physicians thought that physicians should use the same dialect as dialect-using patients. In addition, dialect-using physicians were more likely to think that a physician-related factor was responsible for having difficulty in garnering clinical information.
CONCLUSIONS: Use of dialects by Japanese physicians during communication with patients seems common and may differ by geographic areas. Physicians' use of dialects could be a useful tool for effective clinical communication.