Introduction
Being an effective communicator is a core competency required of all health care
practitioners. Some undergraduate medical students at the Nelson R. Mandela School of
Medicine (NRMSM), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, are unable to communicate in
isiZulu, the mother tongue of nearly 80% of the 10.2 million people in the province, and the
most common home language spoken in South Africa. A one-year isiZulu course to teach
communicative competence in the language, and assessed in the first three years of the 6-year
MBChB programme, is currently offered at the first year level to medical students.
Aim
This study was conducted in 2012 to assess how isiZulu clinical communication was
perceived by a third year cohort of medical students, and whether current teaching in the
period 2010-2012 had prepared them to communicate with their patients.
Methods
An observational, cross-sectional study design was used to assess the knowledge, attitude and
practice of the study group through a self-completed questionnaire. Their knowledge of
isiZulu was assessed in a written test, and the students’ marks were compared with their
marks in 2010. Oral competence was assessed in an isiZulu history-taking station in the
objective structured clinical examination. Students’ comments on their experiences and their
recommendations were recorded. Ethics approval was obtained to conduct the study, and
informed consent was obtained from participants.
Results & Discussion
Medical students’ competence in isiZulu had improved. They were largely positive about
learning the language of their patients but seldom used the language in the clinical setting.
Many students indicated that the current teaching of isiZulu in the programme was
inadequate for their needs. Conclusion & Recommendations
Although isiZulu is taught to non-isiZulu students, this does not convert into an ability to use
the language in the clinical setting. In order for medical students to acquire a satisfactory and
safe level of communicative competence in isiZulu, and in line with the UKZN Language
Plan to emphasize language training specific to various vocational groups, it is recommended
that the teaching, learning and assessment of isiZulu language and culture be integrated into
all levels of the undergraduate medical programme in the form of vocation-specific isiZulu
for medical students. / Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/11114 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Matthews, Margaret Glynnis. |
| Contributors | Van Wyk, Jacqueline Marina. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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