Dr Abdullah Ismail Mohammed, Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at the Arabian Gulf University (AGU), has recently participated in the AMEE 2025 International Conference on Medical Education, held this year in Barcelona, Spain. He presented a research study entitled: “Taking Informed Consent: Effect of Studying in English and Practising in Arabic on the Experience of Junior Surgeons”.

The study addressed one of the key challenges facing junior surgeons in the Arab world, such as the linguistic gap between the language of medical education (English) and the language of patient communication (Arabic). The findings revealed that this disparity can affect new doctors’ ability to clearly and effectively explain medical procedures to patients, which in turn impacts the quality of informed consent, which is a cornerstone of ethical medical practice.

During his presentation, Dr Abdullah explained that junior surgeons often struggle to translate precise medical terminology into simplified language that patients can easily understand, which may lead to misunderstandings or hesitation in decision-making. He also highlighted the importance of developing training programmes focused on medical communication skills in Arabic, alongside raising awareness of the critical role of language in building trust between doctor and patient.

The study received wide interest from conference participants, particularly in light of the global trend towards strengthening effective communication between healthcare providers and patients, and respecting diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.