A professor at a university in Bahrain has presented his research at a leading conference on medical education in Barcelona, Spain.
Arabian Gulf University (AGU) College of Medicine and Health Sciences surgery department assistant professor Dr Abdullah Mohammed presented his work at the The International Association for Health Professions Education (AMEE) 2025 conference.
The study, ‘Taking Informed Consent: Effect of Studying in English and Practising in Arabic on the Experience of Junior Surgeons’, addressed a key challenge facing junior surgeons in the Arab world – the language gap between medical education (English) and the language of patient communication (Arabic).
The findings revealed that this gap can affect new doctors’ ability to clearly explain medical procedures to patients, which can impact the quality of informed consent and decision-making, an essential element of ethical medical practice.
He also highlighted the importance of developing training programmes focused on medical communication skills in Arabic, alongside raising awareness of the critical role of language in building trust between a doctor and patient.
The study received wide interest from conference participants, particularly in light of the global trend towards strengthening effective communication between healthcare providers and patients, and respecting diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds
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