Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted Team Decision-Making through English as a Medium of Professional Medical Communication in Doctor-Doctor Meetings in a Saudi Hospital: A multimethod discourse approach(University of Reading, 2024-08) Alahmadi, Layal; Jaworska, SylviaThis study addresses the gap in understanding decision-making (DM) as a distinct interactional genre in multilingual, multicultural healthcare teams, such as those in Saudi Arabia. While past research focused on DM in doctor-patient interactions, little is known about doctor-doctor communication, especially where English is the medium of professional medical communication (PMC). Effective DM is crucial, as miscommunication can affect patient outcomes. This study explores the language and discursive resources doctors use in team DM, offering insights for professionals and pedagogical implications for improving English medical education in Saudi Arabia, where research critiques graduates’ English without identifying practical workplace needs. A multimethod discourse approach was adopted, combining Genre Analysis (GA), Conversation Analysis (CA), and Interactional Sociolinguistics (IS). Data are weekly doctor to doctor meetings where critical decisions are made. GA revealed two DM types: unambiguous (straightforward, less frequent) and complex (more frequent, extended). Both shared core Moves: Presenting the patient, Pre-decision, Decision, and Closing. Complex DM included Decision execution details and Re-discussing patient status. Both required collective agreement. Complex DM involved elaborated turn-taking and uncertainty, expressed through hedges, hesitation, silences, and pauses prompting rationale. Findings show DM is transactional but relies on relational work. Unambiguous decisions were short and mainly in English. Complex ones used code-switching (CS) and humour. Arabic in CS and humour helped retrieve patient details, defend image, maintain solidarity, and express stress or anger under pressure. This study makes two contributions. First, it presents an authentic view of DM as shaped by hierarchy and epistemic status, which structure asymmetrical interaction and guide members within role boundaries. Second, it addresses the gap in English medical textbooks in Saudi Arabia. Data showed a mismatch between textbook and real-life interaction, limiting student preparation for workplace demands.17 0Item Restricted THE FUTURE OF HEALTH SYSTEMS: MULTIDISCIPLINARY HEALTHCARE TEAM COLLABORATION, TRAINING AND TRANSITION IN HEALTH SYSTEM(University of Newcastle, Australia, 2024) Alzahrani, Rami Hassan J; Boyle, BrendanThis thesis explores multidisciplinary healthcare team collaboration (MDHT) and the effectiveness of training as part of implementing an MDHT model. The governance of the MDHT model is analysed and studied as part of the transition of the health system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. While existing scholarly research indicates that multidisciplinary healthcare teams can address complex healthcare problems and their use as integrated care grows, multidisciplinary teams do not necessarily perform effectively. Despite the potential of MDHT, existing scholarship warns that multidisciplinary teams may experience barriers to collaboration and knowledge sharing; hence, a research problem is established. Following a systematic review of the relevant literature to identify a research gap, this study deploys a qualitative methodology consistent with an interpretive paradigm to explore MDHT collaboration and the effectiveness of training in enhancing the transition to the MDHT model in the Saudi Health System. Interpretivist study must achieve an understanding incorporating the participants’ views, giving prominence to the research participants' subjective experiences of the transition towards an MDHT model. Consistent with this approach, novel quantitative insights into barriers and enablers that can account for and enhance MDHT collaboration were gained based on the experience of health professionals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The thesis also illuminates the lacuna of research evaluating the effectiveness of the training provided to MDHTs and offers novel insights into the effectiveness of training in supporting the MDHT model. In-depth insights into the shortcomings of training interventions relative to participant needs are gained, and in doing so, a unique evaluation of training relevance and utility in the MDHT context is provided. Finally, a significant practical contribution is made to those seeking to transition the Saudi Health care system to the use of MDHT teams. The importance of the supporting pillars of digitisation and privatisation are considered, with the former assessed by its contribution to facilitating efficient and effective knowledge sharing across the MDHT. The findings related to the governance of MDHT warn hospital administrators and policymakers of the importance of clear and consistent approaches to MDHT use as a form of integrated care and clear and consistent policy and practice guidelines for MDHT governance.15 0