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Culinary metaphors in Western medicine: a dilemma of medical students in Africa
Author(s) -
AHMED H.,
OGALA W. N.,
IBRAHIM M.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
medical education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.776
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1365-2923
pISSN - 0308-0110
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2923.1992.tb00195.x
Subject(s) - dilemma , medical education , disease , medical school , medicine , family medicine , psychology , pathology , epistemology , philosophy
Summary. A study was conducted of African medical students in two schools to determine their level of understanding of some culinary metaphors in medicine, particularly those used in the description of certain paediatric conditions. The results showed that the vast majority of medical students and young resident doctors are not familiar with many of the European foods, fruits and beverages that are commonly used in medical textbooks to describe disease conditions. In describing disease, it is suggested that medical educators and authors in Europe should endeavour to use terms that are simple and universal. They should not assume universal knowledge of fruits and dishes available in their environment. Medical educators in Africa should also simplify the description by using appropriate terms.