by: Elizabeth Sanderson, VCU MSW Intern
Oftentimes, having a conversation with doctors in a medical setting where they are delivering information can be complicated. This can be due to the amount of information people are receiving, the emotional state of people who are receiving the news, and the medical language used by doctors. If patients are not in a place where they can ask doctors questions about what they hear, information can be missed or even misunderstood at times. This communication gap between providers and patients can have serious implications on patient health and outcomes.
There are multiple reasons that doctors seem to use a different language at times. One is their educational background and the need for a shorthand among colleagues and for time purposes. Doctors’ jobs are often fast-paced, and decisions sometimes have to be made in a short amount of time. Using shorthand with other medical professionals can be a necessary time saver when discussing choices that need to be made. Doctors may not realize how often they use this jargon and how these phrases might be misunderstood by their patients. Everyone has aspects of the language used in our jobs that only people who work with us might understand, but when patient health is the topic, it is important that patients know they can and should ask for further information. If a doctor uses a phrase or even a word with which, in that context, patients are unfamiliar, it is important that patients are able to get the time and explanations they need from their doctors. Phrases commonly used one way in a medical setting may mean something entirely different in a non-medical setting.
Another reason that doctors may communicate in this way is because of a level of separation that might be necessary to do this work for long periods of time. Delivering difficult news to people repeatedly takes an emotional toll on the doctors as they are exposed to repeated trauma, so using a shorthand or less specific language could be a way of protecting themselves and helping them to avoid professional burnout. However, when this shorthand becomes a barrier to patients understanding their health status, then there needs to be a way for patients to ask questions and for doctors to explain more clearly.
Patients should be made to feel comfortable asking questions when they require further explanation by doctors creating an environment where patients feel like they can ask questions. By encouraging open conversation, doctors can help ensure that patients fully understand what is being said and that patients are able to make informed decisions about their care. Doctors should provide time and space where they encourage the patients to ask any questions that have come up during their time together. Doctors should also provide a clear way for patients to get in touch afterward for any questions that might arise later on. If doctors are willing to hear their patients’ questions and respond with empathy and consideration, this will enable the patient to feel comfortable continuing to ask questions about their care.
Doctors have many reasons for why they may be using the jargon they do (efficiency, self-protection, etc.), so in order for patients to get the most they can out of their appointments, there has to be an awareness on both sides of what needs to be done to communicate effectively. If doctors can provide space for the patients to feel comfortable to ask questions, then patients will be able to make more informed choices about their care and potentially feel less fear and confusion surrounding their medical decisions. Improving patient outcomes is the best-case scenario for all involved, and this could be a simple way to help in that mission.
