Medical Jargon is Often Misunderstood by Patients in the Emergency Department

Departments Included in Project: Pritzker School of Medicine, Medicine,

Project Classification: Patient Centeredness

Does the work incorporate equity?

This work incorporates equity as the results suggest that many patients leave encounters with their providers without fully grasping essential medical concepts about their health, emphasizing the ever-persistent disparities in healthcare communication and literacy. Further statistical analysis will be performed on our data to determine whether patient’s scores and comprehension of medical jargon varies by race, education level, or other demographic factors. It is possible that the use of medical jargon is disproportionately impacting certain patients who may already have lower health literacy, leading to unclear follow-up instructions for these individuals, further exacerbating other health disparities. Additionally, this study took place in the Emergency Department—a fast-paced environment where medical jargon is often used— and patients who rely on the ED for preventive care (a group that disproportionately includes those with limited access to primary care) may be especially likely to encounter jargon, contributing to poorer communication and worse outcomes. This further underscores the importance of deliberate effort to reduce the use of jargon when communicating with patients to ensure clearer, more equitable care.

Does this work address any of the UChicago Medicine quality priorities as listed on the Clinical Excellence Scorecard?

Hospital Readmissions, Patient Experience