Patients understanding of terminology commonly used during combined orthodontic-orthognathic treatment.
Medical terminology
Oral and maxillofacial surgery
Orthodontic
Orthognathic
Patient understanding
Journal
The surgeon : journal of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Ireland
ISSN: 1479-666X
Titre abrégé: Surgeon
Pays: Scotland
ID NLM: 101168329
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Oct 2021
Oct 2021
Historique:
received:
03
04
2020
revised:
25
07
2020
accepted:
17
09
2020
pubmed:
12
1
2021
medline:
29
10
2021
entrez:
11
1
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Communication between patients and clinicians plays an important role in improving quality of healthcare and clinical outcomes and ensuring that patients understand medical terminology used by their physicians is a core aspect of this. The aim of this study is to evaluate the degree of patient understanding with respect to commonly used terms in a joint orthodontic-maxillofacial clinic in the context of preparing for combined orthodontic/orthognathic treatment. Patients were recruited to partake in a short two-part questionnaire. Demographic data collected included participants' age, sex, level of education, fluency of English and whether English was their first language. In the second part of the questionnaire, participants were asked to identify the correct definition of 11 commonly used terms from a series of multiple-choice answers. 51 patients participated in this study ranging between ages 15 to 52. 86% of patients selected English as their first language and 37% reported having a university education. The overall mean score for the questionnaire was 44%, with the best understood term being 'retainers' at 80% correct and 'decalcification' the worst understood at 14% correct. An association between level of education and understanding of specific terms was detected. This study highlights the overall sub-optimal patient understanding of medical terminology used by clinicians on a joint orthodontic-maxillofacial orthognathic clinic. The authors of this study recommend further consideration to the terminology currently used as well as adapting the mode and frequency of information delivery, serving to improve patients' understanding and retention of medical conversations.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Communication between patients and clinicians plays an important role in improving quality of healthcare and clinical outcomes and ensuring that patients understand medical terminology used by their physicians is a core aspect of this. The aim of this study is to evaluate the degree of patient understanding with respect to commonly used terms in a joint orthodontic-maxillofacial clinic in the context of preparing for combined orthodontic/orthognathic treatment.
METHODS
METHODS
Patients were recruited to partake in a short two-part questionnaire. Demographic data collected included participants' age, sex, level of education, fluency of English and whether English was their first language. In the second part of the questionnaire, participants were asked to identify the correct definition of 11 commonly used terms from a series of multiple-choice answers.
RESULTS
RESULTS
51 patients participated in this study ranging between ages 15 to 52. 86% of patients selected English as their first language and 37% reported having a university education. The overall mean score for the questionnaire was 44%, with the best understood term being 'retainers' at 80% correct and 'decalcification' the worst understood at 14% correct. An association between level of education and understanding of specific terms was detected.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
This study highlights the overall sub-optimal patient understanding of medical terminology used by clinicians on a joint orthodontic-maxillofacial orthognathic clinic. The authors of this study recommend further consideration to the terminology currently used as well as adapting the mode and frequency of information delivery, serving to improve patients' understanding and retention of medical conversations.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33423926
pii: S1479-666X(20)30167-0
doi: 10.1016/j.surge.2020.09.012
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
e193-e198Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2020 Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (Scottish charity number SC005317) and Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.