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Medical communication: do our patients understand?

E B Lerner1, D V Jehle, D M Janicke

  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, USA. lerner@acsu.buffalo.edu

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
|December 5, 2000
PubMed
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Many patients misunderstand common medical terms. Understanding of medical terminology is lower in younger, urban, and less educated individuals, highlighting the need for clear patient communication.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Education
  • Health Literacy
  • Emergency Medicine

Background:

  • Effective communication between healthcare providers (HCPs) and patients is crucial for quality care.
  • Patient comprehension of medical terminology can significantly impact adherence to treatment and health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess emergency department (ED) patients' understanding of common medical terms used by HCPs.
  • To identify demographic factors associated with comprehension levels of medical terminology.

Main Methods:

  • A study involving 249 non-urgent ED patients (age >18) at urban and suburban hospitals.
  • Patients were tested on their understanding of six pairs of medical terms (analogous and non-analogous).
  • Multiple linear regression analysis examined relationships between test scores and age, sex, hospital site, education, and income.

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Main Results:

  • The mean correct response score was 2.8 out of 6.
  • High percentages of patients misunderstood analogous terms: bleeding/hemorrhage (79%), broken bone/fractured bone (78%), heart attack/myocardial infarction (74%).
  • Higher test scores correlated significantly with older age, higher education levels, and suburban hospital site.

Conclusions:

  • Medical terminology is frequently misunderstood by patients, particularly younger, urban, and less educated individuals.
  • Healthcare providers should prioritize clear explanations of medical terms, even common ones, to improve patient understanding.
  • Improving health literacy in emergency settings is essential for better patient engagement and outcomes.