Elderly Discourse in Healthcare: Communication Patterns Among Elderly Sindhi Patients, and Specialist Doctors, in Private Clinics, Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

Elderly population is increasing worldwide, and greater has to be focused to attend to their social, psychological and healthcare needs. Effective communication within the healthcare sector plays a crucial role in ensuring care for elderly patients. Previous studies have examined elderly patient’s recollections of doctor-patient interactions, healthcare needs, and patients’ satisfaction in healthcare discourse, research on real-time discourse involving elderly individuals, and specialized doctors. This study investigates the communication patterns of elderly Sindhi male and female patients within the healthcare sector. To achieve this, a qualitative multiple case study approach was employed, with data collected through observation, discourse recordings, and field notes. Four elderly patients (two males and two females aged 60 and above) participated in the study, with interactions with their doctors recorded over six hours. Interactional sociolinguistics served as the analytical framework for data analysis. The findings indicate that specialist doctors played a key role in facilitating discourse with elderly patients and bridging intergenerational sensitivity. They fostered a sense of connection by recalling patient history and daily routines when interacting with female patients while showing respect for the feelings and linguistic identity of elderly male patients. This study offers an understanding of elderly discourse in the healthcare sector and its impact on health communication. The health sector and Government should improvise their policies and train medical staff on ageist language in communication courses and training.