Writing Out Common Medical Terms Boosts Patient Knowledge: Study

Spell It Out: Writing Out Common Medical Terms Boosts Patient Understanding, Says Study

John McCormack

May 16, 2022

4

MI. HTN. hx. Although these abbreviations might make it easier for physicians and other healthcare professionals to create and consume clinical documentation, the shorthand confuses patients, according to a study published May 13 in JAMA Network Open.

Researchers, who conducted clinical trials at three hospitals, found that expansion of 10 common medical abbreviations and acronyms in patient health records significantly increased overall comprehension (see chart).

To continue reading this article ...
or
Continue reading your article with a Medscape account

Join the Top Medical Resource for Physicians Today. Free Membership!

Comments

3090D553-9492-4563-8681-AD288FA52ACE
Comments on Medscape are moderated and should be professional in tone and on topic. You must declare any conflicts of interest related to your comments and responses. Please see our Commenting Guide for further information. We reserve the right to remove posts at our sole discretion.

processing....