Intercultural communication is also an essential component in medicine. For
instance, little is known whether health care professionals communicate effectively with
the ethnic minority patients. Not only language difficulties, but also cultural differences
in beliefs and understanding of disease may result in problems in intercultural
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communication. noted that communication with non-English speaking patients was still unsatisfactory and there
is need for more research to overcome some of the barriers in the intercultural
communication. that one should have training on appropriate use of an interpreter, use pictures
to explain concepts to patients, demonstrate via body language but avoid use of common
gestures as they may have different cultural meanings, and schedule longer appointment
with patients who may have language or cultural barriers so that the interaction is not
rushed.