Centre for Pre University Studies, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Centre for Education, International Medical University, No 126 Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil , 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
BMC Med Educ. 2022 May 26;22(1):405. doi: 10.1186/s12909-022-03481-w.
Language proficiency is crucial for doctors as they communicate with patients, peers and other healthcare professionals. Although proficiency in English is part of admission requirements, there is a gap in the knowledge of medical students' perception of factors enhancing English language (EL) skills during training in international medical programmes (IMPs). The gap prevents educators and policy makers from helping students who struggle with communication skills during medical training. This study therefore explores the importance of English language skills from medical students' perspectives.
Six focus group interviews with 24 medical students were conducted in an IMP. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke's framework of thematic analysis.
Results established three themes that constitute the importance of EL skills, namely the use of EL in medical training and practice, influence of university culture in EL mastery and individual EL proficiency as perceived by medical students.
Findings of this study demonstrate how students perceived the importance of EL skills as a professional and social requirement during medical training and for future practice. It also informs that setting English language admission pre requisites needs to be complemented with opportunities to practice context specific communication skills. Thus, international medical programmes should embed diverse and inclusive strategies to support and develop medical students' English language skills.
医生在与患者、同行和其他医疗保健专业人员交流时，语言能力至关重要。尽管英语熟练程度是国际医学课程（IMP）入学要求的一部分，但在 IMP 培训期间，学生对提高英语语言（EL）技能的因素的认识存在差距。这一差距使得教育者和政策制定者无法帮助那些在医学培训中沟通技巧存在困难的学生。因此，本研究从医学生的角度探讨了英语语言技能的重要性。
在一个 IMP 中进行了六次焦点小组访谈，共有 24 名医学生参加。使用 Braun 和 Clarke 的主题分析框架对数据进行分析。
结果确定了构成 EL 技能重要性的三个主题，即 EL 在医学培训和实践中的使用、大学文化对 EL 掌握的影响以及医学生对个人 EL 熟练程度的感知。
本研究的结果表明，学生如何将 EL 技能视为医学培训和未来实践中的专业和社会要求。它还表明，设定英语语言入学先决条件需要辅以练习特定于上下文的沟通技巧的机会。因此，国际医学课程应嵌入多样化和包容性的策略，以支持和发展医学生的英语语言技能。
