JSMU students launch multilingual medical history handbook

What happened

Students at Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) have launched a free digital medical history-taking handbook [1, 2]. The resource was developed by the Internal Medicine Interest Group of Sindh Medical College (IMIG-SMC) [2].

Key details of the project include:

• The handbook is a digital resource available for free download through the JSMU website [1].
• It covers seven languages: English, Urdu, Sindhi, Saraiki, Punjabi, Pashto, and Balochi [1, 2].
• The project was completed under the supervision of Dr. Sadaf Razzaq, an associate professor in the Department of Pathology, and Prof. Dr. Ambreen Usmani, the principal of Sindh Medical College [1].
• Abdul Tawab Ishaq, a final-year MBBS student from Sri Lanka and former president of the Internal Medicine Interest Group, played a key role in the development [1].
• The initiative aims to bridge the communication gap between medical students, who are primarily trained in English, and patients who speak regional languages [2].
• The handbook is designed to assist students in understanding symptoms, asking relevant questions, and obtaining accurate medical histories for clinical assessment and diagnosis [1, 2].

JSMU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Amjad Siraj Memon stated that the initiative aims to remove language barriers in clinical settings and enable clearer communication with patients from different linguistic backgrounds [1, 2].

During the launch ceremony, Sri Lankan Consul General Sanjeeva Pathiwella noted that Ishaq’s work showed how the pursuit of knowledge and service to humanity transcends national boundaries [1]. Dr. Sahar Abbasi, a director at the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan, also attended the launch [1].

Who is affected

• Medical students: The handbook serves as a practical learning resource to help them interact with patients from diverse linguistic backgrounds [2].
• Patients: The resource is intended to improve diagnostic accuracy and facilitate clearer communication between patients and healthcare professionals [1].
• Healthcare professionals: The tool aims to help overcome communication barriers during clinical assessments [1].