A specialist in emergency medicine visits a patient at the emergency department of Burjeel Hospital n Abu Dhabi. Silvia Razgova / The National
A specialist in emergency medicine visits a patient at the emergency department of Burjeel Hospital n Abu Dhabi. Silvia Razgova / The National
A specialist in emergency medicine visits a patient at the emergency department of Burjeel Hospital n Abu Dhabi. Silvia Razgova / The National
A specialist in emergency medicine visits a patient at the emergency department of Burjeel Hospital n Abu Dhabi. Silvia Razgova / The National

Why we should all be more fluent in medical speak


  • English
  • Arabic

It is not always clear whether patients understand or know what their doctor meant, after they leave their appointment, but there is growing concern about the level of health literacy.

The World Health Organisation has determined that health literacy is an important issue. Several definitions exist, but health literacy simply means that people know where to obtain information, are able to understand that information and have the capacity to use it to manage their health or that of those they care for.

With the overwhelming amount of information available on the internet, doctors are increasingly concerned that patients may misinterpret that information and ignore their doctor’s advice, in order to address health matters.

What we know for sure is that many people use the healthcare system, even when they don’t need to, costing the government billions of dirhams.

At Zayed University, recent Emirati graduates in public health and nutrition, Jawaher Al Dhuhoori, Fatima Jasmine Sidawi and Ayesha Al Zaabi, are participating in research that looks at ways to assess a person’s level of health literacy.

Students are often seen as the “more educated” person in the family and more “fluent in English” given the large number of expat healthcare providers who do not speak Arabic in this country. But formal education alone does not translate into health literacy. It takes more than being educated and we must pay careful attention, in order to reduce unnecessary healthcare costs, increase prevention and improve quality of life.

At a recent undergraduate student research forum, Ms Al Dhuhoori stated that “limited literacy skills is one of the strongest predictors of poor health outcomes for patients.

"Studies have shown that when patients have low reading fluency, they often know less about their chronic diseases, are worse at managing their own care, and may be less likely to take preventive measures for their own health or that of their loved ones.

"However, patients do not need to have limited literacy skills to have low health literacy, according to research," she said.

She noted the importance of addressing health literacy now, not later, because it has affected health outcomes, health care utilisation and health costs among the Emirati population.

The rapid development experienced by Emiratis over the past few decades has drastically changed their environment, to include a state-of-the-art but often complex medical system and an increasing demand for home healthcare provision due to chronic disease.

If Emiratis do not understand health information, it is difficult to take appropriate actions for their health or make appropriate health decisions that sustain a healthy community.

Our team, consisting of Emirati and non-Emirati researchers will continue to find answers for the status of health literacy in the UAE, and create awareness to address health literacy and future policy design to implement change in provider-patient communication.

This will include research on healthcare providers. Problems with health literacy affects not only people who may experience low literacy but also those who may be extremely literate in their own areas of expertise, but who have a problem understanding medical terminology.

Academic institutions should also consider including health literacy in health science curricula to better prepare professionals for the healthcare environment when it comes to effective communication.

For now, the best approach for providers is to always assume that the patient does not understand you or has a different perception of what you are saying. Providers, consider this question: if I had been your patient, how can you make sure that I understood what you meant?

Dr Ludmilla Wikkeling Scott is an assistant professor of public health & environmental sciences & sustainability and principal investigator in health literacy research at Zayed University

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Name: buybackbazaar.com

Started: January 2018

Founder(s): Pishu Ganglani and Ricky Husaini

Based: Dubai

Sector: FinTech, micro finance

Initial investment: $1 million

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CONCRETE COWBOY

Directed by: Ricky Staub

Starring: Idris Elba, Caleb McLaughlin, Jharrel Jerome

3.5/5 stars

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Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

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England 15-16 New Zealand

Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face

The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.

The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran. 

Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf. 

"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said. 

Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer. 

The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy. 

 

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Rating: 4/5

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Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
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The specs

Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder

Transmission: 7-speed auto

0-100kmh 2.3 seconds

0-200kmh 5.5 seconds

0-300kmh 11.6 seconds

Power: 1500hp

Torque: 1600Nm

Price: Dh13,400,000

On sale: now

Expert advice

“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”

Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles

“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”

Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre 

“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”

Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
 

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Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes

Rating:3/5

If you go

The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road. 

The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
 

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2nd Test August 3-7 in Colombo

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Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

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