A Systematic Review of Needs Analysis Research in English for Medical Purposes (2010-2024)
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Published:
Dec 10, 2025
Keywords:
English for Medical Purposes (EMP), English for Specific Purposes (ESP), evidence-based approach, needs analysis (NA), systematic review
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Abstract
This study systematically reviews English for Medical Purposes needs analysis research findings and methodologies. It addresses the lack of a consolidated synthesis specific to the field, offering integrated insights for researchers, English teachers and medical practitioners. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) checklist, 19 academic databases, including Scopus, PubMed, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, and academic search engines, mainly JURN and BASE, were searched using predefined key terms: “English for Specific Purposes,” “Needs analysis,” and “English for Medical Purposes.” From the initial search, 2240 studies were identified. These studies were screened using rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria, focusing on publication language, peer-review status, publication date (2010-2024), and scope, among other criteria. Ten studies (n=10) were included in the final dataset and further evaluated using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). The current synthesis established that the studies emphasised the critical importance of core language skills for medical communication, with seven studies highlighting the importance of medical terminology. The same seven studies also noted widespread dissatisfaction with outdated course materials and significant gaps in the alignment of content and the needs of medical professionals. In terms of methodology, eight studies used a mixed methods approach, nine relied on triangulation, and only six used pilot tests to ensure reliability and validity. A key implication of these findings is the need for an evidence-based approach to English education for medical purposes, grounded in empirical research, to better support researchers, ESP teachers, and medical practitioners. Consequently, more longitudinal research tracking EMP skills across the medical landscape is needed to bridge these critical gaps and advance the pedagogy.
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MESSAHEL, M. A., & IDRI, N. (2025). A Systematic Review of Needs Analysis Research in English for Medical Purposes (2010-2024) . ALTRALANG Journal, 7(2), 283-301. https://doi.org/10.52919/altralang.v7i2.587
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References
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• Azzhrani, M. A. H., & Alghamdi, A. (2020). An Analysis of the English Language Needs of Medical Professionals Within the Saudi Context: An Exploratory Study in Light of Covid-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Linguistics, 12(6), 1. https://doi.org/10.5296/ijl.v12i6.17866
• Basturkmen, H. (2010). Developing courses in English for specific purposes (1. publ). Palgrave Macmillan.
• Basturkmen, H. (2013). Needs Analysis and Syllabus Design for Language for Specific Purposes. In C. A. Chapelle (Ed.), The Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics (pp. 1–8). Blackwell Publishing Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781405198431.wbeal0861.pub2
• Basturkmen, H. (2021). ESP Research Directions: Enduring and Emerging Lines of Inquiry. Language Teaching Research Quarterly, 23, 5–11. https://doi.org/10.32038/ltrq.2021.23.02
• Basturkmen, H. (2022). Current trends in ESP research in the Asia Pacific region. World Englishes, 41(4), 512–522. https://doi.org/10.1111/weng.12601
• Baumgardner, R. J., & Chamberlain, D. (1988). ESP in the Classroom: Practice and Evaluation (Vol. 128). Modern English Publications.
• Bilici, H. J., & Jodoin, J. (2017). From Needs Analysis to Lessons Learned: Designing an ESP Course for Chinese Medical Staff. Journal of Policy Studies, 54, 15–22.
• Boland, A., Cherry, G., & Dickson, R. (Eds). (2017). Doing a Systematic Review: A Student′s Guide (2nd edn). SAGE Publications.
• Bolton, K., & Jenks, C. (2022). World Englishes and English for specific purposes (ESP). World Englishes, 41(4), 495–511. https://doi.org/10.1111/weng.12604
• Brown, J. D. (2016). Introducing needs analysis and English for specific purposes. Routledge.
• Coxhead, A. (2012). Vocabulary and ESP. In B. Paltridge & S. Starfield (Eds), The handbook of English for specific purposes (1st edn, pp. 115–132). Wiley Online Library.
• Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (5th edition). SAGE Publications.
• Dou, A. Q., Chan, S. H., & Win, M. T. (2023). Changing visions in ESP development and teaching: Past, present, and future vistas. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1140659
• Elmotri, B. (2025). Assessing the Impact of EMI-Imported Materials on Linguistic Challenges, Task Design, and Exam Performance in Tunisian English as a Foreign Language Higher Education. In F. Rouaghe, N. Idri, & T. Assassi (Eds), English Medium Instruction in Higher Education: Unveiling the North African Context (1st edn, Vol. 44, pp. 43–70). Springer.
• Farea, W. A., & Singh, M. K. M. (2024). A target English needs analysis on ESP course: Exploring medical students’ perceptions of necessities at a Yemeni university. Training, Language and Culture, 8(1), 20–37. https://doi.org/10.22363/2521-442X-2024-8-1-20-37
• Feak, C. (2012). ESP and Speaking. In The Handbook of English for Specific Purposes (pp. 35–53). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118339855.ch2
• Ferguson, G. (2012). English for medical purposes. In B. Paltridge & S. Starfield (Eds), The handbook of English for specific purposes (1st edn, pp. 343–362). Wiley Online Library.
• Flowerdew, L. (2012). Needs analysis and curriculum development in ESP. In B. Paltridge & S. Starfield (Eds), The handbook of English for specific purposes (1st edn, pp. 325–346). Wiley Online Library.
• Goh, C. C. M. (2012). ESP and Listening. In B. Paltridge & S. Starfield (Eds), The Handbook of English for Specific Purposes (1st edn, pp. 55–75). Wiley Online Library.
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• Hidayati, L., & Meisani, D. R. (2023). The Needs Analysis of English for Specific Purposes: A Study in an Indonesian Medical School. Indonesian Journal of English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics, 7(2), 465–479. http://dx.doi.org/10.21093/ijeltal.v7i2.1424
• Hirvela, A. (2012). ESP and reading. In B. Paltridge & S. Starfield (Eds), The handbook of English for specific purposes (1st edn, pp. 77–94). Wiley Online Library.
• Hong, Q. N., Fàbregues, S., Bartlett, G., Boardman, F., Cargo, M., Dagenais, P., Gagnon, M.-P., Griffiths, F., Nicolau, B., O’Cathain, A., Rousseau, M.-C., Vedel, I., & Pluye, P. (2018). The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) version 2018 for information professionals and researchers. Education for Information, 34, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.3233/EFI-180221
• Hull, M. (2016). Medical language proficiency: A discussion of interprofessional language competencies and potential for patient risk. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 54, 158–172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2015.02.015
• Hutchinson, T., & Waters, A. (1987). English for specific purposes A learning-Centred approach (B. Howard & P. Strevens, Eds). Cambridge university press.
• Hwang, Y., & Lin, S. (2010). A Study of Medical Students’ Linguistic Needs in Taiwan. The Asian ESP Journal Press, 6(1), 35–58.
• Hyland, K. (2012). ESP and Writing. In B. Paltridge & S. Starfield (Eds), The Handbook of English for Specific Purposes (1st edn, pp. 95–113). Wiley Online Library. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118339855.ch5
• Hyland, K. (2022). English for specific purposes: What is it and where is it taking us? ESP Today-Journal of English for Specific Purposes at Tertiary Level, 10(2), 202–220. https://doi.org/10.18485/esptoday.2022.10.2.1
• Jesson, J., Matheson, L., & Lacey, F. M. (2011). Doing your literature review: Traditional and systematic techniques. SAGE.
• Johns, A., M. (2012). The history of English for specific purposes research. In B. Paltridge & S. Stansfield (Eds), The handbook of English for specific purposes (1st edn, pp. 5–30). Wiley Online Library.
• Long, M. H. (Ed.). (2005). Second Language Needs Analysis. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511667299
• Mackay, R., & Mountford, A., J. (Eds). (1978). English for Specific Purposes: A case study approach (1st edn). LONGMAN.
• Maher, J. (1986). English for Medical Purposes. Language Teaching, 19(2), 112–145. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444800012003
• Min, J. (2020). English for Specific Purposes Education in University Contexts: A Research Synthesis. TESL Reporter, 53(1/2), 59–77.
• Mohammed, A. S. E. (2022). Needs Analysis Research in the Arab World (2000–2019): Contexts and Data Collection Instruments and Sources Triangulation. Language Circle: Journal of Language and Literature, 16(2), 215–230.
• Munby, J. (1978). Communicative syllabus design: A sociolinguistic model for defining the content of purpose-specific language programmes. Cambridge University Press.
• Özdemir, N. Ö. (2014). Diagnosing the EAP needs of Turkish medical students: A longitudinal critical needs analysis. Ibérica, Revista de la Asociación Europea de Lenguas para Fines Específicos, 28, 35–57.
• Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., … Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
• Serafini, E. J., Lake, J. B., & Long, M. H. (2015). Needs analysis for specialized learner populations: Essential methodological improvements. English for Specific Purposes, 40, 11–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2015.05.002
• Skelton, J. R., & Richards, C. (2021). Communication for medicine: State-of-the-art. ESP Today-Journal of English for Specific Purposes at Tertiary Level, 9(1), 1–8.
• Starfield, S. (2013). Historical Development of Language for Specific Purposes. In C. A. Chapelle (Ed.), The Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics. Blackwell Publishing Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781405198431.wbeal0505
• Tan, S., Bava, M., & Hu, H. X. (2023). A bibliometric analysis of english for specific purposes from 2011 to 2023 using Citespace: Visualizing status, themes, evolution, and emerging trends. Journal of Language and Education, 9(3), 159–175. https://doi.org/10.17323/jle.2023.17632
• Trujeque-Moreno, E. E., Romero-Fernández, A., Esparragoza-Barragán, A., & Villa-Jaimes, C. J. (2021). Needs Analysis in the English for Specific Purposes (ESP) Approach: The Case of the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla. Mextesol Journal, 45(2). https://doi.org/10.61871/mj.v45n2-17
• Wette, R. (2018). English for specific purposes (ESP) and English for academic purposes (EAP). In J. I. Liontas & M. DelliCarpini (Eds), The TESOL encyclopedia of English language teaching (1st edn, pp. 1–7). John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
• Willey, I., Tanimoto, K., McCrohan, G., & Nishiya, K. (2020). An English needs analysis of medical doctors in Western Japan. Journal of the Japan Association for Language Teaching, 42(2), 143–169. https://doi.org/ttps://doi.org/10.37546/JALTJJ42.2-3
• Woodrow, L. (2018). Introducing course design in English for specific purposes (B. Paltridge & S. Starfield, Eds; Vol. 184). Routledge.
• Antic, Z., & Milosavljevic, N. (2016). Some suggestions for modelling a contemporary medical English course design based on need analysis. Lingua, 184, 69–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lingua.2016.06.002
• Azzhrani, M. A. H., & Alghamdi, A. (2020). An Analysis of the English Language Needs of Medical Professionals Within the Saudi Context: An Exploratory Study in Light of Covid-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Linguistics, 12(6), 1. https://doi.org/10.5296/ijl.v12i6.17866
• Basturkmen, H. (2010). Developing courses in English for specific purposes (1. publ). Palgrave Macmillan.
• Basturkmen, H. (2013). Needs Analysis and Syllabus Design for Language for Specific Purposes. In C. A. Chapelle (Ed.), The Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics (pp. 1–8). Blackwell Publishing Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781405198431.wbeal0861.pub2
• Basturkmen, H. (2021). ESP Research Directions: Enduring and Emerging Lines of Inquiry. Language Teaching Research Quarterly, 23, 5–11. https://doi.org/10.32038/ltrq.2021.23.02
• Basturkmen, H. (2022). Current trends in ESP research in the Asia Pacific region. World Englishes, 41(4), 512–522. https://doi.org/10.1111/weng.12601
• Baumgardner, R. J., & Chamberlain, D. (1988). ESP in the Classroom: Practice and Evaluation (Vol. 128). Modern English Publications.
• Bilici, H. J., & Jodoin, J. (2017). From Needs Analysis to Lessons Learned: Designing an ESP Course for Chinese Medical Staff. Journal of Policy Studies, 54, 15–22.
• Boland, A., Cherry, G., & Dickson, R. (Eds). (2017). Doing a Systematic Review: A Student′s Guide (2nd edn). SAGE Publications.
• Bolton, K., & Jenks, C. (2022). World Englishes and English for specific purposes (ESP). World Englishes, 41(4), 495–511. https://doi.org/10.1111/weng.12604
• Brown, J. D. (2016). Introducing needs analysis and English for specific purposes. Routledge.
• Coxhead, A. (2012). Vocabulary and ESP. In B. Paltridge & S. Starfield (Eds), The handbook of English for specific purposes (1st edn, pp. 115–132). Wiley Online Library.
• Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (5th edition). SAGE Publications.
• Dou, A. Q., Chan, S. H., & Win, M. T. (2023). Changing visions in ESP development and teaching: Past, present, and future vistas. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1140659
• Elmotri, B. (2025). Assessing the Impact of EMI-Imported Materials on Linguistic Challenges, Task Design, and Exam Performance in Tunisian English as a Foreign Language Higher Education. In F. Rouaghe, N. Idri, & T. Assassi (Eds), English Medium Instruction in Higher Education: Unveiling the North African Context (1st edn, Vol. 44, pp. 43–70). Springer.
• Farea, W. A., & Singh, M. K. M. (2024). A target English needs analysis on ESP course: Exploring medical students’ perceptions of necessities at a Yemeni university. Training, Language and Culture, 8(1), 20–37. https://doi.org/10.22363/2521-442X-2024-8-1-20-37
• Feak, C. (2012). ESP and Speaking. In The Handbook of English for Specific Purposes (pp. 35–53). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118339855.ch2
• Ferguson, G. (2012). English for medical purposes. In B. Paltridge & S. Starfield (Eds), The handbook of English for specific purposes (1st edn, pp. 343–362). Wiley Online Library.
• Flowerdew, L. (2012). Needs analysis and curriculum development in ESP. In B. Paltridge & S. Starfield (Eds), The handbook of English for specific purposes (1st edn, pp. 325–346). Wiley Online Library.
• Goh, C. C. M. (2012). ESP and Listening. In B. Paltridge & S. Starfield (Eds), The Handbook of English for Specific Purposes (1st edn, pp. 55–75). Wiley Online Library.
• Hekmati, N., Davoudi, M., Zareian, G., & Elyasi, M. (2020). English for medical purposes: An investigation into medical students’ English language needs. Iranian Journal of Applied Language Studies, 12(1), 151–176. https://doi.org/10.22111/ijals.2020.5648
• Hidayati, L., & Meisani, D. R. (2023). The Needs Analysis of English for Specific Purposes: A Study in an Indonesian Medical School. Indonesian Journal of English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics, 7(2), 465–479. http://dx.doi.org/10.21093/ijeltal.v7i2.1424
• Hirvela, A. (2012). ESP and reading. In B. Paltridge & S. Starfield (Eds), The handbook of English for specific purposes (1st edn, pp. 77–94). Wiley Online Library.
• Hong, Q. N., Fàbregues, S., Bartlett, G., Boardman, F., Cargo, M., Dagenais, P., Gagnon, M.-P., Griffiths, F., Nicolau, B., O’Cathain, A., Rousseau, M.-C., Vedel, I., & Pluye, P. (2018). The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) version 2018 for information professionals and researchers. Education for Information, 34, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.3233/EFI-180221
• Hull, M. (2016). Medical language proficiency: A discussion of interprofessional language competencies and potential for patient risk. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 54, 158–172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2015.02.015
• Hutchinson, T., & Waters, A. (1987). English for specific purposes A learning-Centred approach (B. Howard & P. Strevens, Eds). Cambridge university press.
• Hwang, Y., & Lin, S. (2010). A Study of Medical Students’ Linguistic Needs in Taiwan. The Asian ESP Journal Press, 6(1), 35–58.
• Hyland, K. (2012). ESP and Writing. In B. Paltridge & S. Starfield (Eds), The Handbook of English for Specific Purposes (1st edn, pp. 95–113). Wiley Online Library. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118339855.ch5
• Hyland, K. (2022). English for specific purposes: What is it and where is it taking us? ESP Today-Journal of English for Specific Purposes at Tertiary Level, 10(2), 202–220. https://doi.org/10.18485/esptoday.2022.10.2.1
• Jesson, J., Matheson, L., & Lacey, F. M. (2011). Doing your literature review: Traditional and systematic techniques. SAGE.
• Johns, A., M. (2012). The history of English for specific purposes research. In B. Paltridge & S. Stansfield (Eds), The handbook of English for specific purposes (1st edn, pp. 5–30). Wiley Online Library.
• Long, M. H. (Ed.). (2005). Second Language Needs Analysis. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511667299
• Mackay, R., & Mountford, A., J. (Eds). (1978). English for Specific Purposes: A case study approach (1st edn). LONGMAN.
• Maher, J. (1986). English for Medical Purposes. Language Teaching, 19(2), 112–145. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444800012003
• Min, J. (2020). English for Specific Purposes Education in University Contexts: A Research Synthesis. TESL Reporter, 53(1/2), 59–77.
• Mohammed, A. S. E. (2022). Needs Analysis Research in the Arab World (2000–2019): Contexts and Data Collection Instruments and Sources Triangulation. Language Circle: Journal of Language and Literature, 16(2), 215–230.
• Munby, J. (1978). Communicative syllabus design: A sociolinguistic model for defining the content of purpose-specific language programmes. Cambridge University Press.
• Özdemir, N. Ö. (2014). Diagnosing the EAP needs of Turkish medical students: A longitudinal critical needs analysis. Ibérica, Revista de la Asociación Europea de Lenguas para Fines Específicos, 28, 35–57.
• Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., … Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
• Serafini, E. J., Lake, J. B., & Long, M. H. (2015). Needs analysis for specialized learner populations: Essential methodological improvements. English for Specific Purposes, 40, 11–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2015.05.002
• Skelton, J. R., & Richards, C. (2021). Communication for medicine: State-of-the-art. ESP Today-Journal of English for Specific Purposes at Tertiary Level, 9(1), 1–8.
• Starfield, S. (2013). Historical Development of Language for Specific Purposes. In C. A. Chapelle (Ed.), The Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics. Blackwell Publishing Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781405198431.wbeal0505
• Tan, S., Bava, M., & Hu, H. X. (2023). A bibliometric analysis of english for specific purposes from 2011 to 2023 using Citespace: Visualizing status, themes, evolution, and emerging trends. Journal of Language and Education, 9(3), 159–175. https://doi.org/10.17323/jle.2023.17632
• Trujeque-Moreno, E. E., Romero-Fernández, A., Esparragoza-Barragán, A., & Villa-Jaimes, C. J. (2021). Needs Analysis in the English for Specific Purposes (ESP) Approach: The Case of the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla. Mextesol Journal, 45(2). https://doi.org/10.61871/mj.v45n2-17
• Wette, R. (2018). English for specific purposes (ESP) and English for academic purposes (EAP). In J. I. Liontas & M. DelliCarpini (Eds), The TESOL encyclopedia of English language teaching (1st edn, pp. 1–7). John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
• Willey, I., Tanimoto, K., McCrohan, G., & Nishiya, K. (2020). An English needs analysis of medical doctors in Western Japan. Journal of the Japan Association for Language Teaching, 42(2), 143–169. https://doi.org/ttps://doi.org/10.37546/JALTJJ42.2-3
• Woodrow, L. (2018). Introducing course design in English for specific purposes (B. Paltridge & S. Starfield, Eds; Vol. 184). Routledge.