Nearly half of patients do not understand medical language
Posted: 19 Jun 2014, 10:34Nearly half of patients do not understand medical language
The Royal College of GPs found that nearly one half of patients struggle to understand the advice given to them by their doctor or know how to properly take their medication
43 per cent of adults fail to understand signs in hospital, leaflets and health guides, a study has found
By Sarah Knapton, Science Correspondent
5:54PM BST 18 Jun 2014
Medical language is so complicated that nearly half of patients do not understand it, leaving them at risk of serious conditions, the Royal College of General Practitioners has warned.
Even signs in hospitals are so complex that people miss appointments because they do not understand which department they should be in for their condition, the royal college warned.
Researchers at the RCGP found that one patient had failed to turn up for an x-ray because he did not understand the term ‘radiology’. Others wrongly thought a ‘chronic’ condition meant ‘serious’ rather than persistent.
The RCGP warned that in half of cases, medical professionals were overestimating the ‘health literacy’ of their patients, and patients felt too embarrassed to ask for clarification.
Patient groups said they found that people were often ‘confused and bewildered by medical jargon’ which left them unsure of what their condition was or how to take medication.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10909421/Nearly-half-of-patients-do-not-understand-medical-language.html
The Royal College of GPs found that nearly one half of patients struggle to understand the advice given to them by their doctor or know how to properly take their medication
43 per cent of adults fail to understand signs in hospital, leaflets and health guides, a study has found
By Sarah Knapton, Science Correspondent
5:54PM BST 18 Jun 2014
Medical language is so complicated that nearly half of patients do not understand it, leaving them at risk of serious conditions, the Royal College of General Practitioners has warned.
Even signs in hospitals are so complex that people miss appointments because they do not understand which department they should be in for their condition, the royal college warned.
Researchers at the RCGP found that one patient had failed to turn up for an x-ray because he did not understand the term ‘radiology’. Others wrongly thought a ‘chronic’ condition meant ‘serious’ rather than persistent.
The RCGP warned that in half of cases, medical professionals were overestimating the ‘health literacy’ of their patients, and patients felt too embarrassed to ask for clarification.
Patient groups said they found that people were often ‘confused and bewildered by medical jargon’ which left them unsure of what their condition was or how to take medication.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10909421/Nearly-half-of-patients-do-not-understand-medical-language.html