What Is The Impact On parients ?

What Is The Impact On patients ?

Believe it or not, medical professionals use complicated terms as though the terms actually mean something. And, surprisingly, they do, but only to other medical professionals. At some point in everyones life, they will have to deal with a medical professional. They will also have to deal with their language, and this can be very intimidating. So what do you do when you have to talk to a professional who uses complex medical terms? You ask them to put everything in plain English.

If you're watching a television program about medical professionals, it doesn't matter whether you understand exactly what's being said. But when you're sitting in a doctor's office, for example, and he or she is talking about your child, your parent, or you, understanding the doctor is essential.
The truth is that medical jargon all too often makes simple and relatively harmless things sound scary to a patient with no knowledge of the jargon. After all, most lay people would quake at a diagnosis of acute paronychia only to feel immense relief to discover that it is only an infected hang nail.

The health professional who dodges difficult questions, who remains distant or uncommunicative, who uses medical jargon , or who simply doesn't answer the patient's or family's questions in a truthful, caring, and comprehensive way is taking a huge risk. He or she may be oblivious to the way the patient or family is paying keen attention to everything that is said as well as to the body language of the communicators.

The use of medical jargon that a patient does not understand can also be a great cause of stress to the patient and their family. Ronald Fishbein suggests, for example, a doctor who delivers test results or a diagnosis bluntly, or talks over the patient's head with medical jargon, can often frustrate the patient and have a negative impact on their health.(2000).

The chances are very high that a patients health can be at risk because they do not understand a medical professionals? health information. Patients often are too embarrassed or ashamed to admit that they do not understand. Dr Korsch suggests that when patient is scared, they don't listen or do so well, so a patient should always make sure they feel comfortable with their professional and this will lower the level of their anxiety. (1999)

When visiting a health professional a patient should always make sure that they feel comfortable enough to talk openly with their professional and also take the time to ask their professional to explain anything that have not understood fully.

In recent years medical professionals have realized that their jargon is lost on patients and have tried to be more understanding, using clear meanings and making sure their patients understand. While it is the medical professionals job to talk in a comprehensible way, it is ultimately the patients responsibility to ask questions and speak up if they are unsure.

Responsibility for effective health care is shared by both the medical professional and the patient. It must be noted that in years gone by patients always deferred to medical professionals and treated them as godlike. This is a very heavy burden to expect a mere mortal to carry. In these times it is up to a patient to speak up and voice their concerns or ask for an explanation. This a fundamental right and must be used if a patient wishes to receive the best care for themselves.