The Language Needs Of Medical Professionals In Nsukka Metropolis

The purpose of this study was to analyse the language needs of the medical professionals in the Nsukka metropolis. Needs analysis is all about finding out the visions of a particular group and how to make such vision a reality through the English language as a second language in harnessing communication among them. In the course of the study, three research questions were formulated. The structured questionnaire was used to obtain data from a sample of 206 medical professionals.

The probability random sampling of the sample population is bifurcated as follows: 120 females and 86 males. The population comprised 92 medical professionals from Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka, 80 medical professionals from Medical Center, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and 34 medical professionals from General Hospital, Nsukka. While analysing the data gathered, tables, pie charts, frequencies and percentages were used. The findings indicated that the English language is very useful in conducting medical tasks and also communicating in the medical field. It also showed that the unification of the four language skills while interacting in the hospitals boost the usefulness of medical English language skills. It stated that the medical students should know their prior aim of using medical English in hospitals.

It was concluded that medical professionals should master medical English, knowing the use of the language skills appropriately and having a referent of their primary aims as it concerns communication by using medical English terminology while interacting in hospitals.