Are patients more at ease when you use familiar words?

A study suggests that, particularly for sensitive subjects, patients like to hear their language reflected back.

By Victoria Stagg Elliott, AMNews staff. Jan. 17, 2005.

When physicians match the vocabulary patients use to describe their symptoms, patients report higher levels of satisfaction, distress relief and intent to comply with recommendations, according to a study published in the December 2004 issue of Family Practice.

Researchers at Guy's King's and St. Thomas' School of Medicine in London randomized 60 patients with problems of a sexual or excretory nature who went to an inner-city primary care physician. The doctor spoke to half of the patients using medical terminology. For the other half, the physician matched the slang and euphemisms used by the patient. Patients in the matched vocabulary group had statistically higher scores for the Medical Interview Satisfaction Scale. The doctor's satisfaction with the interaction was unchanged.

"Patients like matched language," said Jane Ogden, PhD, one of the authors and a professor of health psychology. "Reflecting language is one way that you make people feel comfortable in normal day-to-day conversation, and there's no reason why the consultation should be any different."

Patient-physician communication experts praised the study for its unique design and approach.

"Physicians are the experts in the science, and patients are the experts in themselves. If we can come toward a middle, and speak the same language, then we'd both be happier," said Alan Rubin, MD, who is a general internist and serves as the director of the doctoring skills program at the University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington.