Caitríona Cox and Zoë Fritz argue that outdated medical language that casts doubt, belittles, or blames patients jeopardises the therapeutic relationship and is overdue for change Language is important. It is a vehicle for sharing knowledge and understanding, and a means by which we can express and communicate our values to others. In a medical context, language does more than transfer ...
As the manager of Care Management at Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital, Genovese is frequently asked to help with complex cases when patients and their families are struggling to understand what providers are telling them.The longtime nurse has become particularly adept at mitigating the conflicts that can arise when clinicians rely too heavily on medical jargon to convey important information.
Doctors should speak slowly and avoid using jargon with their patients, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has said.1 A report by the college said that doctors often used words that were unfamiliar to patients or that patients did not fully understand. “Doctors may use familiar words in unfamiliar ways,” it said. “For example, when health practitioners use the term ...
In spite of their best intentions to communicate clearly, clinicians regularly use medical jargon within these categories when disclosing test results, having difficult conversations, and providing care recommendations to patients and their families. 1–6 Researchers have referred to this as “jargon oblivion,” a disconnect between clinicians’ perceptions that they are communicating ...
The Alarming Reality: How Medical Jargon Affects Patient Care 1. The Communication Barrier Between Doctors and Patients. A 2022 NIH study found that:. Only 9% of patients fully understand their diagnosis when medical jargon is used.; Over 50% misinterpreted prescription instructions due to unclear language.; Why does this happen?
Creating anxiety: The use of medical jargon can create anxiety and fear in patients and families, particularly if they do not understand the terminology. Creating barriers to care: Medical jargon can create barriers to care by making it difficult for patients and families to understand their diagnosis, treatment options, and prognosis.
To promote health literacy, the use of medical terminology and acronyms in patient encounters is discouraged. For interprofessional teams, avoiding the use of unfamiliar medical terms and acronyms as well as making sure all team members, including patients and their family members, understand any medical terms and acronyms used to support ...
The researchers said that despite this understanding and an acknowledgment that the best patient-provider communication is free of medical jargon, most providers are still using complex terminology. The researchers were careful not to lay blame on or shame healthcare providers who sometimes use medical jargon with their patients.
Effective patient communication is essential in healthcare, yet the use of complex medical jargon can create barriers between healthcare providers and patients. Simplifying medical language not only enhances understanding but also fosters trust and encourages active participation in health decisions.
Efforts to define terms to advance understanding are incomplete without including the perspective of patients, but we cannot learn from their experiences if we do not know how to ask. 43 The terms described throughout this issue brief may have little to no meaning to patients. We have learned a lot from pioneering work on patient surveys and interviews. 44-47 Rather than speak of their ...
4 ways to explain medical jargon. After learning how to effectively explain medical concepts to patients in medical school, good physicians will strive to continue honing this skill throughout their careers, Dr. Serrecchia notes. “Deciphering medical jargon for patients is not the topic of one homework assignment or one specific course.
2. Use patient-friendly terminology. Using clear language and avoiding vague or overly technical jargon will help your patients digest complex medical information. A study published in Health Literacy Research and Practice found that sometimes patients neither understand medical terminology nor recognize the gaps in their comprehension. Just as ...
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (12/15/2022) — Published in JAMA Network Open, University of Minnesota Medical School researchers found there is often a disconnect between the medical language used by doctors and patient understanding.This mismatch in clinicians’ intent to speak plainly with the reality that they continue to use confusing terminology is known as jargon oblivion.
While most studies on medical jargon focus on patients’ understanding of terminology (6–12) and quantify the use of jargon in clinical settings (1–3), this study looks at people's preferences on how clinicians communicate and why patients think they use jargon. Our findings revealed that in a large sample of the general public, over 90% ...
4 in 5 patients believe they’d see an improvement in their health if they understood the whole picture. When your patient isn’t tracking with the language you’re using, they may not grasp the importance of what’s going on with their health. And if they don’t understand that, they are less likely to follow your protocols.
Medical jargon can be confusing and intimidating for patients, especially those who are not familiar with medical terms. Using plain language helps to ensure that patients understand their condition, treatment options, and what they need to do to take care of themselves.
Why Understanding Medical Jargon Matters. When patients understand medical terminology, they are better equipped to: Make Informed Decisions: Knowledge of medical jargon allows patients to understand their diagnosis, treatment options, and potential outcomes, empowering them to make choices that align with their values and goals.; Ask Relevant Questions: Being familiar with medical terms ...
While it has been shown that healthcare providers often use medical jargon, less is known about how patients prefer their clinicians communicate. This mixed-methods study aimed to better understand the general public's preference in healthcare communication. A volunteer cohort of 205 adult attendees …
