Ageist Language in Doctor-Patient Interactions in Malaysia and Pakistan: A Comparative Qualitative Study

Much research on interactions between doctors and their older patients (Peck, 2011; Samra et al., 2015) has focused on patient attitudes or satisfaction. Previous research on older patients focused either on their healthcare needs (Shah et al., 2021) or their limited health literacy (Salim et al., 2022). Drawing upon qualitative comparative design and thematic analysis informed by Levy’s (2009) age stereotype embodiment theory (SET), this study critically examines ageism in doctor-patient interactions in Malaysia and Pakistan. Thirty (30) participants (15 from Pakistan and 15 from Malaysia) selected through purposive sampling participated in this study and shared their responses. Findings reported that doctor-patient interactions were influenced by ageism, which manifested in some doctors employing ageist language, ridiculing older patients, emphasizing their perceived ineffectiveness, disregarding their opinions, patronizing, and infantilizing them. Moreover, cross-country differences in the use of ageist language were reported, and these differences included Malaysian doctors associating older persons with diseases and Pakistani doctors linking older persons with emotional vulnerability. Comparative, discourse-informed application of SET in Malaysia and Pakistan is a novel methodological contribution of this study. This study presents implications in relation to healthcare communication. While appropriate communication with patients is taught in some medical faculties, focus on communicating with older patients should also be incorporated in such courses.