What's in a name? Quite a lot, actually

Area of Science:

• Healthcare terminology
• Health services research
• Patient classification

Background:

• The National Health Service (NHS) serves a diverse population, including those seeking preventative care, health advice, or support without acute illness.
• Current terminology used within the NHS may not adequately capture the nuances of individuals who utilize services but are not formally diagnosed with a condition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and define appropriate terminology for individuals accessing NHS services who are not currently experiencing illness.
• To analyze the implications of different terms (patient, service user, customer, client) in the context of NHS service provision and user experience.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of existing literature on healthcare user terminology.
• Exploration of conceptual frameworks for defining healthcare engagement beyond illness.
• Discussion of potential impacts on patient-provider relationships and service design.

Main Results:

• The term 'patient' is often intrinsically linked to illness, making it unsuitable for non-ill users.
• 'Service user' is a more inclusive term but may lack specificity.
• 'Customer' and 'client' introduce commercial connotations that may not align with NHS principles.

Conclusions:

• There is a need for clearer, more inclusive terminology to describe individuals accessing NHS services without illness.
• Further research is recommended to establish a universally accepted and appropriate term that respects user autonomy and NHS values.