A study of English listening comprehension problems of pharmacists in Thailand

Effective listening is a critical component of pharmacy practice, ensuring accurate communication between pharmacists and patients and directly contributing to treatment safety and clinical outcomes. This study investigated the English listening comprehension challenges faced by Thai pharmacists in healthcare settings, with a particular focus on patient consultations. A total of 474 pharmacists from across Thailand participated in the study. An exploratory research design was employed to gain in-depth insights into their listening difficulties. Data were collected through a developed questionnaire which was validated using the Index of Item-Objective Congruence (IOC). The findings revealed that a majority of pharmacists experienced difficulties when patients mixed English with another language or spoke rapidly without pauses. Many participants also reported mentally translating English into Thai during consultations, which hindered real-time comprehension. Limited exposure to diverse English accents and unfamiliar terminology related to symptoms and medications were also identified as a barrier to effective communication. The study highlights the need to improve English listening comprehension among Thai pharmacists, which is essential to enhance communication accuracy and ensure safe, patient-centered pharmaceutical care.