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Using the Word Want in Health Care May Leave Patients Wanting
Ambereen K Mehta1,2, Suzana Makowski3,4, Farrah N Daly5
1Palliative Care Program, Division of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Journal of Palliative Medicine
|September 3, 2025
Summary
Clinicians must carefully choose words during serious illness conversations. Specific language, like the word "want," can significantly impact patient outcomes and advance care planning.
Area of Science:
- Medical Communication
- Palliative Care
- Bioethics
Background:
- Effective communication is crucial for complex decision-making and advance care planning in serious illnesses.
- Clinician training, experience, and comfort levels vary significantly in handling these sensitive discussions.
- Specific word choices and phrasing can influence patient understanding and outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the clinical impact of specific language in advance care planning discussions.
- To illustrate how seemingly small word choices can affect patient-related outcomes.
- To emphasize the importance of mindful communication in serious illness.
Main Methods:
- Case study presentation.
- Analysis of a clinical scenario involving a patient with a serious illness.
- Examination of the impact of specific linguistic choices on patient outcomes.
Main Results:
- The use of the word "want" in discussions can have a notable impact on patient-related outcomes.
- Language choices directly influence the trajectory of advance care planning.
- Careful consideration of terminology is essential for effective clinical communication.
Conclusions:
- Mindful language selection is critical for successful advance care planning and serious illness communication.
- Clinicians should be aware of the power of specific words to shape patient understanding and decisions.
- Improving communication skills enhances patient-centered care in palliative and serious illness contexts.
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