Medical Jargon in Patient Education Materials
The statement "Take this medication by mouth once a day to help reduce your risk of cerebral vascular accident and myocardial infarction" represents technical terminology, which is inappropriate for patient education materials.
Understanding Medical Jargon in Patient Education
Medical jargon refers to specialized terminology used by healthcare professionals that is often not understood by the general public. In the given example, two specific instances of technical terminology appear:
- "Cerebral vascular accident" - medical term for stroke
- "Myocardial infarction" - medical term for heart attack
Impact on Patient Understanding
Using technical terminology in patient education materials creates several problems:
- Reduced comprehension - Patients may not understand the terms, leading to confusion about why they're taking the medication
- Decreased medication adherence - When patients don't understand the purpose of their medication, they're less likely to take it consistently
- Increased anxiety - Unfamiliar medical terms can cause unnecessary worry
Best Practices for Patient Education
Patient education materials should use plain language that is easily understood by individuals without medical training. The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association guidelines emphasize the importance of clear communication when educating patients about cardiovascular risk reduction 1.
Better Alternative
A more appropriate statement would be:
- "Take this medication by mouth once daily to help reduce your risk of stroke and heart attack."
Evidence Supporting Plain Language
Research shows that statins like atorvastatin effectively reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack. The SPARCL trial demonstrated that high-dose atorvastatin reduced stroke risk by 16% and major coronary events by 35% in patients with recent stroke or TIA 2, 3.
The FDA-approved label for atorvastatin confirms its indication "to reduce the risk of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, revascularization procedures, and angina" 4. However, this technical language is appropriate for healthcare providers, not patients.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Patient Education
- Avoid acronyms (CVA, MI) without explanation
- Replace technical terms with everyday language
- Use consistent terminology throughout materials
- Consider health literacy levels when developing materials
- Test materials with actual patients to ensure comprehension
By using plain language in patient education materials, healthcare providers can improve patient understanding, adherence, and ultimately health outcomes related to statin therapy.