Dadour, E., & Elnegery, M. (2013). Non-native speakers_ attitudes toward taking non-recommended medicine and comprehending English written medicinal pamphlets. European Journal of Social Sciences, 40 (1), 5-18

Abstract

The present study aimed to find a linguistic solution and psychological guidance to decrease the danger of taking medicine that is not recommended by specialist physicians in communities where English is not the native language.  The study investigated the attitudes of university graduates, being well educated citizens, toward taking non-prescribed medicine on one hand and toward the existence of a simplified mini bilingual dictionary that includes medical words commonly used in medicinal pamphlets.  Subjects of the study were 181 university graduates of: non-medical schools (n=65); medical schools (n=35); foreign language departments (n=81).  An Attitudes Questionnaire was constructed, by the present researchers; then used to collect data related to research hypotheses.   Results of the study revealed that there were statistically significant differences between observed frequencies and expected ones related to the attitudes of the subjects toward both taking medicine that is not recommended by a physician, and the existence of a mini bilingual dictionary that includes words commonly used in medicinal pamphlets.  The study included detailed interpretations and discussions related to such results.

 Keywords: Attitudes, non-native speakers, taking medicine, comprehending medicinal pamphlets, psychological guidance, health education, health safety, bilingual dictionaries, and linguistic barriers.