Exploring the Needs of Arabic Interpreters in Promoting Medical Tourism Among Visitors from Arab-Speaking Nations

Medical tourism is currently a prominent sector as a country's economy grows. When seeking medical treatment in Malaysia, Arabic-speaking visitors may require the services of an interpreter. However, Arabic interpreters for medical tourism in Malaysia are only available in a few private faci...

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Main Author: Aisyah Jahidah Binti Samsudin
Format: Thesis
Language:en_US
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spelling my-usim-ddms-126592024-05-29T04:35:17Z Exploring the Needs of Arabic Interpreters in Promoting Medical Tourism Among Visitors from Arab-Speaking Nations Aisyah Jahidah Binti Samsudin Medical tourism is currently a prominent sector as a country's economy grows. When seeking medical treatment in Malaysia, Arabic-speaking visitors may require the services of an interpreter. However, Arabic interpreters for medical tourism in Malaysia are only available in a few private facilities. Consequently, the demand for an Arabic interpreter to provide high-quality services is sometimes overlooked. Thus, the goals of this research are to investigate the current challenges faced by medical interpreters in face-to-face interpretation, to investigate the current issues of Arabic interpreters in promoting medical tourism in Malaysia, and to provide recommendations on how to improve Arabic interpreters in Malaysia. This study is qualitative based research as it used systematic literature review and online semi-structured interviews for data collection. Five Arabic interpreters from private hospitals in Klang Valley were interviewed. The findings of the study showed that first, there are four challenges faced by medical interpreters in face-to-face interpretation which are interdisciplinary knowledges, engagement with medical staffs, two-way communication skills and interaction with patients. Second, there are five current issues and needs of Arabic interpreters in promoting medical tourism in Malaysia which are hard skills and other requirements, understanding daily routine, good rapport with patients, soft skills and other related skills and promotion for other parties. Third, there are five recommendations for the improvement of Arabic interpreters in Malaysia which are mastering hard skills, Arabic interpreter for other sectors, interpreter career improvement, mastering soft skills, language and communication services for Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC). This study helped to improve the medical interpreters’ performance in hospitals to boost the vibrancy of Malaysian medical tourism. This study also proposed that specific training and language courses in medical interpretation to train medical interpreters should be developed before they work in the field. Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia 2023-09 Thesis en_US https://oarep.usim.edu.my/handle/123456789/12659 https://oarep.usim.edu.my/bitstreams/7633715b-e3bf-4e0f-b1a2-d73ec437f3b7/download 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 Health facilities--Translating services Medicine--Translating Translating and interpreting Arabic language--Translating
institution Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia
collection USIM Institutional Repository
language en_US
topic Health facilities--Translating services
Medicine--Translating
Translating and interpreting
Arabic language--Translating
spellingShingle Health facilities--Translating services
Medicine--Translating
Translating and interpreting
Arabic language--Translating
Aisyah Jahidah Binti Samsudin
Exploring the Needs of Arabic Interpreters in Promoting Medical Tourism Among Visitors from Arab-Speaking Nations
description Medical tourism is currently a prominent sector as a country's economy grows. When seeking medical treatment in Malaysia, Arabic-speaking visitors may require the services of an interpreter. However, Arabic interpreters for medical tourism in Malaysia are only available in a few private facilities. Consequently, the demand for an Arabic interpreter to provide high-quality services is sometimes overlooked. Thus, the goals of this research are to investigate the current challenges faced by medical interpreters in face-to-face interpretation, to investigate the current issues of Arabic interpreters in promoting medical tourism in Malaysia, and to provide recommendations on how to improve Arabic interpreters in Malaysia. This study is qualitative based research as it used systematic literature review and online semi-structured interviews for data collection. Five Arabic interpreters from private hospitals in Klang Valley were interviewed. The findings of the study showed that first, there are four challenges faced by medical interpreters in face-to-face interpretation which are interdisciplinary knowledges, engagement with medical staffs, two-way communication skills and interaction with patients. Second, there are five current issues and needs of Arabic interpreters in promoting medical tourism in Malaysia which are hard skills and other requirements, understanding daily routine, good rapport with patients, soft skills and other related skills and promotion for other parties. Third, there are five recommendations for the improvement of Arabic interpreters in Malaysia which are mastering hard skills, Arabic interpreter for other sectors, interpreter career improvement, mastering soft skills, language and communication services for Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC). This study helped to improve the medical interpreters’ performance in hospitals to boost the vibrancy of Malaysian medical tourism. This study also proposed that specific training and language courses in medical interpretation to train medical interpreters should be developed before they work in the field.
format Thesis
author Aisyah Jahidah Binti Samsudin
author_facet Aisyah Jahidah Binti Samsudin
author_sort Aisyah Jahidah Binti Samsudin
title Exploring the Needs of Arabic Interpreters in Promoting Medical Tourism Among Visitors from Arab-Speaking Nations
title_short Exploring the Needs of Arabic Interpreters in Promoting Medical Tourism Among Visitors from Arab-Speaking Nations
title_full Exploring the Needs of Arabic Interpreters in Promoting Medical Tourism Among Visitors from Arab-Speaking Nations
title_fullStr Exploring the Needs of Arabic Interpreters in Promoting Medical Tourism Among Visitors from Arab-Speaking Nations
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the Needs of Arabic Interpreters in Promoting Medical Tourism Among Visitors from Arab-Speaking Nations
title_sort exploring the needs of arabic interpreters in promoting medical tourism among visitors from arab-speaking nations
granting_institution Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia
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