Politeness Strategies in Health Care Providers and Patients’ Communication

Abstract

This paper focuses on politeness strategies used by health care providers and patients in their interaction. Data collection was done in four hospitals within Nyamagana Municipality in Mwanza using observation and interview methods. The study employed content qualitative method and the theory of politeness as provided by Brown and Levinson (1987) for the analysis and presentation of data. The study employed the theory of politeness by Brown and Levinson (1987). Key findings reveal that different politeness strategies such as positive, negative, off-record and bald on record were employed in the communication between health care providers and patients. The study indicates that among the four politeness strategies employed, positive politeness was the dominant one while bald on record was rarely used. Moreover, the study reveals that there are different cases in which inappropriate use of the strategies of politeness led to impoliteness. It is recommended that health care providers and patients should consider using language in a way that will reduce the social distance between them which can impact their communication and health outcomes. This can be achieved by an appropriate application of politeness strategies in their interaction