The communication taking place amongst healthcare workers could become confusing if those involved in medical jobs don’t get the right training in the use of medical terminology. I explain the concept to my patients, avoiding medical jargon. Patient understanding of medical jargon: A survey study of U.S. medical students Health literacy is basic reading and numerical skills that allow a person to function in the health care environment. Patients have expressed a strong desire to see the medical jargon in correspondence between specialists and their GPs translated into plain English, a New Zealand study of 60 outpatients found. Ever had these medical terms thrown at you and have no idea what the doctor means? However, the importance of the public's understanding of medical terminology has recently been extended as some ambulance services have now introduced criteria based dispatch systems. Use words the patient will understand, define unfamiliar words and confirm understanding by asking questions. The use of words and phrases that people do not understand will be debated at an annual meeting of the British Medical Association’s consultants group today. 1 ... explain the medical aims of the proposed care to the patient. Jargon use in communication with patients does not appear to stem from unrealistic presumptions about patients' understanding or from desensitization to jargon during medical school. Trois arguments sont défendus. To determine whether minimising the use of medical terminology in medical correspondence improved patient understanding and anxiety/depression scores. Therefore, jargon should be used with caution in order to avoid confusing people especially when they are not in the same working filed or industry as you. Sometimes, interpreting the doctor's medical jargon can feel like trying to understand the lyrics of the popular rapper, Lil Wayne. The medical field is filled with cryptic jargon, including innumerable scientific terms and medical abbreviations. Speaking slowly is recommended to improve patient comprehension; Avoiding jargon that may be misconstrued our outside of a patient’s general knowledge; Repeating major points to ensure patient understanding; The RCGP also recommends that doctors gauge their patients amount of understanding which may help them explain health related information at a level adequate to the patients … 1.5.6 Avoid using jargon. Translating Medical Jargon. À partir d’une enquête portant sur l’expérience du vih aux îles Fidji, cet article examine les raisons qui amènent les personnes séropositives d’origine fidjienne autochtone à cesser la prise en charge médicale de leur condition. ObjectiveWith increasing exposure, medical students may forget that technical jargon is unfamiliar to laypeople. Here are some examples of commonly heard jargon: Medical jargon – I need a script in order to pick up the medicine. These systems aim to triage emergency 999 calls and loss of consciousness is one of the criteria used to determine a rapid ambulance response. W hen one joins a profession it is easy to lose sight of how difficult it can be for the average person to understand the words or phrases we commonly use. Whether its topsy-turvy language or murky medical jargon, most cancer patients run up against a "lost--in-translation" moment with their doctors. Educational initiatives (verbal, written or through the internet and multimedia) are needed to improve patient knowledge and understanding. By Mary Gillis, Reuters Health. Medical terms, if not carefully used or explained, can cause patient confusion. I clarify anything my patients did not understand and reassess their understanding. The professionals commonly use medical terminology to inform the patient of their status and a patient may simply nod their head to be polite. However, parental understanding of medical jargon commonly used during prematurity counseling is unknown. But this medical jargon creates a barrier between the healthcare professional and the patient. Medical terminology helps to describe a patient’s medical condition and the treatment requirements so all involved have a common understanding without having to go into great detail. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Training about patient knowledge of medical jargon may be a useful addition to communication skills curricula. Understanding NHS jargon. There can be misunderstandings between the patient and the professional when it comes to diagnoses and treatment plans due to the communication barrier. 8 At least … 7 min read. Doctors should explain procedures and directions to patients in a manner that they understand. Writer Diane Mapes and Fred Hutch experts weigh in on the importance of good patient-doctor communication. This article is more than 6 years old . 4 ways to explain medical jargon. In response to the findings, the royal college is now calling for medical jargon to be toned down, and for GPs to ensure patients fully understand their condition. Il vient d'être démontré qu'un médecin et son patient peuvent avoir des difficultés de compréhension de par le jargon utilisé par le praticien, pas forcément aussi bien saisi par le malade. Katherine Murphy, Chief Executive of the Patients Association , said it was essential for all patients to be given clear and concise information and called for the NHS to cut out jargon and confusing signs from hospitals and clinics. Doctors told to dispense with confusing medical jargon. Take care to apply the same diagnostic principles you would with other patients. If a patient has difficulty communicating or understanding it's easier to miss things. Methods. Report urges health professionals to use clearer language after finding that many patients … You're not alone! If my patients still do not understand, I … Some technical terms and what they mean in plain English: “myocardial infarction” (heart attack) “hyperlipidemia” (high cholesterol) Patients often misunderstand medical terminology and healthcare concepts. When you are new to working with the NHS it can be difficult to get used to some of the language and terms that are used. A few months ago, my wife asked me to accompany her on a visit to the doctor to help interpret her test results. Medical language is so complicated that nearly half of patients do not understand it, leaving them at risk of serious conditions, the Royal College of General Practitioners has warned. Medical jargon may cloud doctor-patient communication. I assess my patients’ understanding by asking them to explain the concept in their own words. Effective communication is known to improve patient satisfaction, 1 and has been correlated with improved health outcomes. Examples of Medical Jargon. Introduction. This acronym buster might be helpful alongside our understanding the NHS section. Introduction. Confused by the apparently all the strange words and letters used when talking about health and disease? “I remind students that most of them possess the same limited understanding of medical language as many of their future patients, and I encourage them to always remember those feelings of confusion, uncertainty and anxiety,” he says. How skipping industry acronyms and jargon and using simple terminology will eliminate confusion and misinterpretation. Interpret her test results and the patient and the patient confusion and misinterpretation terms if. Words during the course of their status and a patient has difficulty or. 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