Politeness Strategies Used During Doctor Patient Interaction By Doctors Of Mardan Medical Complex, Mardan, Pakistan

Original Article

Abstract

Background: Medical communication, especially in multilingual contexts, relies on effective politeness strategies. Using Brown and Levinson’s Politeness Theory¹, this study examines doctor-patient interactions, emphasizing communication's role in reducing disparities and improving healthcare outcomes in diverse settings.

Study Design: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.

Place of Study: Department of Psychiatry Mardan Medical Complex (MMC), Mardan from April Ist, 2023, to 30th June, 2023.

Methods and Materials: This Study a qualitative Descriptive study to collect non-numerical data from the Mardan Medical Complex in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The study used Snowball and convenience sampling to collect data from doctors, with 133 audio samples recorded and 88 purposively sampled. The researcher observed interactions and took notes during data collection. Two politeness models were used for data analysis: Brown and Levinson's politeness theory and Leech's politeness maxims. The results will be shared with doctors to enhance the research's fruitfulness.

Results: The study explores the strategies used by Pakistani doctors, focusing on positive politeness, bald on record, and negative politeness. Positive politeness is used to make patients comfortable and avoid threats, while bald on record is used to guide patients through health and treatment. In government sectors, tact, generosity, agreement, approbation, and sympathy are used more frequently. The study concludes that these strategies vary depending on the context and patient needs.

Conclusion: The study investigates politeness in medical discourse, focusing on doctor-patient verbal interactions in Pakistani government hospitals. It identifies a communication gap due to doctor-centered discourse, contributing to sociolinguistic use of language and workplace communication.