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Intercultural communication between doctors and patients, a view from realist perspective (Seminar, Durham University, 7 July 2014)

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By CentreForMedicalHumanities.org Research Team | Last verified: September 2026

Research Summary: Intercultural Communication in Clinical Practice

Topic: Realist review of doctor-patient intercultural communication mechanisms
Researcher: Emma Paternotte, MD (obstetrics & gynecology resident, Free University of Amsterdam)
Evidence Base: Systematic realist review of 145 peer-reviewed articles identifying barriers and facilitators
Key Mechanisms Identified: Three primary domains—behavioral, attitudinal, and knowledge-based—with substantial overlap with general communication principles
Practical Output: Delphi procedure-derived observational scale for evaluating intercultural clinical communication
Clinical Application: Framework for developing targeted physician training in cross-cultural competence
Seminar Details: Durham University, Burdon House, 7 July 2014, 3pm–5pm; RSVP to Tracy Straker by 30 June

Emma Paternotte studied medicine at the Free University of Amsterdam. In 2011 she graduated and started working as a resident in obstetrics & gynecology in the Saint Lucas Andras hospital, a district teaching hospital with an ethnically diverse patient population.

Emma’s research focused on the communication between doctors of the major ethnicity and patients of the minor ethnicity.

Emma will report on a realist review about intercultural communication. In this review she tried to find out mechanisms which could direct the communication outcome (i.e. barrier or facilitator). She therefore included 145 articles and found out that these mechanisms could be divided in behavior, attitude and knowledge. Many of these mechanisms could also be found in general communication. This can be helpful in the development of training for doctors.

Based on this review, she started a Delphi procedure to develop an observational scale which can be used as a framework to evaluate the intercultural communication between doctors and patients.

Date: Monday 7 July 2014

Venue: Burdon House

Timings: 3pm – 5pm

Please respond to Tracy Straker for catering purposes by 30th June.

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