Jargon Be Gone – Patient Preference in Doctor Communication
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 atte...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Patient Experience |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/23743735231158942 |
| _version_ | 1811162390656450560 |
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| author | Katherine A Allen MD Victoria Charpentier MD Marissa A Hendrickson MD Molly Kessler PhD Rachael Gotlieb MD Jordan Marmet MD Emily Hause MD Corinne Praska MD Scott Lunos MS Michael B Pitt MD |
| author_facet | Katherine A Allen MD Victoria Charpentier MD Marissa A Hendrickson MD Molly Kessler PhD Rachael Gotlieb MD Jordan Marmet MD Emily Hause MD Corinne Praska MD Scott Lunos MS Michael B Pitt MD |
| author_sort | Katherine A Allen MD |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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 at the 2021 Minnesota State Fair was presented a survey with two scenarios at a doctor's office sharing the same information: one using medical terminology and one using simpler, jargon-free language. Survey participants were asked which doctor they preferred, to describe each doctor, and to explain why they believe that doctors may use medical terminology. Common descriptive themes for the jargon-using doctor included that this doctor caused confusion, was too technical, and was uncaring, while the doctor who spoke without jargon was perceived as a good communicator, caring/empathetic, and approachable. Respondents perceived a range of reasons why doctors use jargon, from not recognizing they are using words that are not understood to trying to make themselves feel more important. Overall, 91% of survey respondents preferred the doctor who communicated without medical jargon. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T06:28:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c06a574f647444edace8a9c67871e0e6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2374-3743 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T06:28:52Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Patient Experience |
| spelling | doaj.art-c06a574f647444edace8a9c67871e0e62023-03-01T16:33:11ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Patient Experience2374-37432023-03-011010.1177/23743735231158942Jargon Be Gone – Patient Preference in Doctor CommunicationKatherine A Allen MD0Victoria Charpentier MD1Marissa A Hendrickson MD2Molly Kessler PhD3Rachael Gotlieb MD4Jordan Marmet MD5Emily Hause MD6Corinne Praska MD7Scott Lunos MS8Michael B Pitt MD9 Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Medicine Division, , Minneapolis, MN, USA School of Medicine, , Minneapolis, MN, USA Department of Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine Division, , Minneapolis, MN, USA Department of Writing Studies, , Minneapolis, MN, USA School of Medicine, , Minneapolis, MN, USA Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Medicine Division, , Minneapolis, MN, USA Department of Pediatrics, Rheumatology Division, , Minneapolis, MN, USA School of Medicine, , Minneapolis, MN, USA Biostatistical Design and Analysis Center, Clinical and Translational Science, Institute University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Medicine Division, , Minneapolis, MN, USAWhile 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 at the 2021 Minnesota State Fair was presented a survey with two scenarios at a doctor's office sharing the same information: one using medical terminology and one using simpler, jargon-free language. Survey participants were asked which doctor they preferred, to describe each doctor, and to explain why they believe that doctors may use medical terminology. Common descriptive themes for the jargon-using doctor included that this doctor caused confusion, was too technical, and was uncaring, while the doctor who spoke without jargon was perceived as a good communicator, caring/empathetic, and approachable. Respondents perceived a range of reasons why doctors use jargon, from not recognizing they are using words that are not understood to trying to make themselves feel more important. Overall, 91% of survey respondents preferred the doctor who communicated without medical jargon.https://doi.org/10.1177/23743735231158942 |
| spellingShingle | Katherine A Allen MD Victoria Charpentier MD Marissa A Hendrickson MD Molly Kessler PhD Rachael Gotlieb MD Jordan Marmet MD Emily Hause MD Corinne Praska MD Scott Lunos MS Michael B Pitt MD Jargon Be Gone – Patient Preference in Doctor Communication Journal of Patient Experience |
| title | Jargon Be Gone – Patient Preference in Doctor Communication |
| title_full | Jargon Be Gone – Patient Preference in Doctor Communication |
| title_fullStr | Jargon Be Gone – Patient Preference in Doctor Communication |
| title_full_unstemmed | Jargon Be Gone – Patient Preference in Doctor Communication |
| title_short | Jargon Be Gone – Patient Preference in Doctor Communication |
| title_sort | jargon be gone patient preference in doctor communication |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/23743735231158942 |
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