Words to Avoid When Writing Patient Education Materials
- Hannah Darnell
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Healthcare providers should omit jargon from their patient-facing resources/ web pages, and posts.
Avoid phrases like patient struggles with depression. Replace any emotional adjective describing the patient's medical condition. After all, we don’t rate a patient’s pain, nor should we assume we know how they are feeling with their diagnosis.
Replace outdated terms, such as mental retardation, with the term intellectual disability. This practice of updating terminology not only reflects a progressive approach but also promotes inclusivity and diversity. Instead of using a patient’s diagnosis to describe them, choose a different adjective to describe the noun.
For example:
A bipolar patient forgot to take their medication.
Instead Write:
A patient who has bipolar disorder forgot to take their medication.
Use Layperson's Terms
Health care practitioners should always use layperson’s terms when writing for their audiences. This approach ensures that patients feel understood and respected, as there’s nothing more frustrating than receiving medical results with a jargon-filled report of undefined medical terms.
Omit the term or take a few extra seconds to translate it for your patient in parentheses.
The following are medical terms that may be confusing to patients. Healthcare practitioners can take a few seconds to translate words like neurotransmitters (chemicals in the brain), edema (swelling or inflammation), elevated hematocrit (a sign of dehydration), and Emboli (blood clots) into simpler terms like 'brain chemicals', 'swelling', 'dehydration indicator', and 'blood clots'.
Other words healthcare providers should avoid include definitive words like 'never,' 'always,' and 'I promise,' among others. These words may sound absolute, but they are not always accurate in a healthcare context. Jargon or phrases that should be avoided when possible: You should have done…, or why did you wait to seek help? This phraseology sounds condescending. Patients deserve to be respected, not belittled or ashamed.
Should Providers Avoid These Words?
Medical personnel should avoid definitive words because we don’t know what the treatment outcomes will look like. No two patients are the same, and in healthcare, patient conditions can quickly change. Whenever providers use the word 'you,' it’s essential not to come across as arrogant or impatient with patients.
It’s much easier said than done, but remember that your patients and their families have been through a great deal during their hospitalization. They may forget what you taught them yesterday, so show them empathy and reiterate the information as needed.
Professional writing for patients in the hospital, or clients (who receive in-home care), or residents (healthcare in-patient facilities like nursing homes or assisted living homes) should be current, easy to read, and understandable.
Communicating with patients, clients, or residents should be therapeutic, open-ended, and truthful. Evaluate the voice, brand, and tone of patient resources. Revise your content to convey a soft, caring tone, paired with an informative voice that a reputable brand backs.
References:
AI and Grammarly used as editing Tools
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