Communication skills training in Arab countries
In this chapter, we describe some of the challenges present in healthcare communication in Arab countries, including: disclosure of diagnosis; working with families; and language barriers. We then focus specifically on the efforts being made in the multicultural state of Qatar to improve communication skills in healthcare. We describe the curricular approach with medical students at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, with examples of challenges faced surrounding gender and culture issues. We then describe the communication skills training programme for residents, fellows, and practising physicians at Hamad Medical Corporation, the public healthcare system. Challenges in Arab countries for healthcare communication result predominantly from multicultural populations and from cultural differences with the West. This chapter explores how these clinicians can face and transcend these challenges via communication skills training.