This article explores the role of medical jargon in doctor-patient communication to maintain accuracy and efficiency in their healthcare units, examining its impact on understanding and drawbacks as it can creates barrier in reporting, strategies to improve communication and patient comfort. This study aims to highlight the importance of clear and accessible communication and also helps in rendering better treatment to the patients.

Keywords: medical jargon, doctor-patient communication, health literacy, patient understanding, communication barriers

Introduction

Medical jargon is defined as vocabulary or terminology of specialized terms, abbreviations, and phrases used by healthcare professionals for communication. In clinical practice, doctors use medical jargon to ensure ease, precision and accuracy in medical descriptions which can be confusing and terrifying for patients, complicating their ability to understand their health conditions, treatment options, and potential outcomes. Effective communication between doctors and patients is an important tool for accurate diagnosis, faithful treatment, and patient’s satisfaction. While the use of jargon is important for conveying complex information efficiently among healthcare professionals, the challenge arises when it hinders clear understanding for patients, particularly those with low health literacy.

Definitions of Medical Jargon (As in Merriam- Webster's Dictionary):

1. Confused/strange/unintelligent/barbarous language/a hybrid language or dialect simplified in vocabulary and grammar and used for communication between peoples of different speech.
2. Obscure and often pretentious language marked by circumlocutions and long words.

Examples: Some of the commonly used abbreviations or jargons in medical fields are:

Pt. (patient), O/E (On examination), C/E (Clinical examination), D/D (Differential diagnosis), t.t (treatment), # (Fracture), LA (Local anaesthesia), etc.

This systematic review focused on two main concepts:

1. The knowledge of commonly used jargon in the Healthcare profession.
2. To know the effect of jargon on patient–doctor communication and treatment outcomes.

Methods:

1. Literature Review: A review of existing literature on medical jargon, doctor-patient communication, health literacy, and the use of technical language in clinical settings was conducted. [1]

2. Patient and Doctor Surveys:

— Prevalence of medical jargon use in clinical practice

— Understanding of medical terms by patients

— Methods used by doctors to simplify language for patients

— Patient involvement regarding the clarity of medical explanations

3. Patient Interviews: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients. Interviews asked patients, their understanding of medical terms used by their healthcare providers and whether they felt informed and involved in their treatment decisions.

4. Observational Analysis: This involves observing doctor-patient interactions in clinical settings to note how frequently medical jargon was used, how doctors simplified complex terms, and how patients responded. [2]

Results:

1. Prevalence of Medical Jargon in Doctor-Patient Communication: It is prevalent in describing complex conditions, procedures, or medical tests, but often create confusion to patients.

Terms like «hypertension (High BP)», «ischemic heart disease», «myocardial infarction (Heart attack)" can be complex.

2. Literature Review :

— Patient Understanding: A study by Smith et al. (2018) found that 70 % of patients reported difficulty understanding medical terms used by their doctors.

— Patient Satisfaction: Research by Johnson and Lee (2020) shows that patients who describe high levels of understanding had 30 % higher satisfaction rate.

— Health Outcomes: An analysis by Brown et al. (2019) found that patients who understood their treatment plans have 25 % more positive outcomes.

3. Patient Feedback:

— Complex: Many indicates confusion and frustration when medical jargon was used.

— Distrust: Some patients reported feeling less trust in their doctors when they used complex medical terms.

— Desire for Clarity: Patients consistently expressed a desire for clear and simple explanations.

4. Strategies for Improving Communication : Doctors acknowledged the importance of simplifying medical language for patients but noted that time constraints and the need to be precise often made this difficult.
5. Role of Medical Education and Training : A significant number of healthcare professionals (72 %) expressed a desire for more training in patient communication, specifically regarding how to simplify medical terminology without sacrificing accuracy.

Strategies for Improvement:

1. Simplification : Doctors should use simple, everyday language when explaining medical conditions and treatments.
2. Patient Education : Educational materials and resources should provide to patients can help them better understand.
3. Active Listening : Doctors should practice active listening and encourage patients to ask questions and express their concerns.

Conclusion: Medical jargon is a double-edged sword in doctor-patient communication. On one hand, it is essential for precise and efficient communication among healthcare professionals but on another hand, its improper use and explanation can create barriers in understanding and trust between doctors and patients. By adopting strategies to simplify language, educate patients, and practice active listening, healthcare providers can enhance communication, improve patient satisfaction, and ultimately achieve better health outcomes. Training for healthcare professionals on the use of plain language and improving health literacy is essential in fostering trust and empowering patients to take an active role in their healthcare decisions.

References:

1. Авхадиева, И. А. Использование песни «лететь» как инструмента для развития навыков аудирования на уроках РКИ / И. А. Авхадиева // Языковое взаимодействие и интеркультура в коммуникативном пространстве преподавателя: Материалы научно-практической конференции с международным участием, Уфа, 25–26 октября 2024 года. — Уфа: Башкирский государственный медицинский университет, 2024. — С. 7–9.
2. Авхадиева, И. А. Проблемы адаптации студентов к новой социокультурной среде / И. А. Авхадиева // Русский язык как средство адаптации в новой социокультурной среде и получения профессии: Сборник научных статей Научно-практической конференции в рамках ХI Областного фестиваля науки, Белгород, 06 октября 2023 года. — Белгород: ООО «Эпицентр», 2023. — С. 5–7.