I am continuously meeting providers who are seeking out new ways to connect meaningfully with patients. The practitioners I meet want to be able to speak clearly and convincingly to any patient. Even–and especially–when there are significant cultural differences. Some of them have told me they feel like a better doctor when they can share […]
Health Literacy & Digital Health Literacy
From pee-pee, to pee, to urine: the work that words do in health
I was talking with a nurse educator about the uncertainty and difficulties nursing students can face as they learn the specialized language of medicine. She said, “Because this is a different language. It’s very difficult for a student to come in and talk ‘urination.’ They’re used to saying ‘pee.’ And yet their patients aren’t going […]
Why talking about ‘health’ across different groups is tough, and 3 things providers can do
This week, I was at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, giving a webinar through the Region 2 Public Health Training Center. It was about addressing unconscious bias in our language. While I was there, I was participating in, or overhearing, multiple conversations about health and healthcare. Some while walking across campus, some while […]
What does health literacy mean to you?
A few months ago, I decided to conduct an informal survey. I’d begun thinking about the relationships between health literacy research and practice. Since I often get to talk with physicians one-on-one, I decided to ask the next few physicians I encountered a simple question: When you hear the phrase ‘health literacy,’ what does it […]
Workshop: Improve your metaphors
Metaphors are everywhere. And they’re powerful. Multiple studies have proven that they make a difference in how patients think and act. They enhance patient communication. They’re time-saving in their efficiency. And yet we hardly think about them. I’ve joined my voice to those who’ve indicated how metaphors can be cultural mismatches. I’ve also written about […]
Providers: your words may have more power than you realize
I was recently speaking with a woman who has Stage III ovarian cancer. We were talking about the language that gets used around cancer and other terminal diseases. She retold one conversation that stood out to her, because of her surgeon’s careful use of language: “He said, ‘Y’know it’s gonna get us in the end.’ […]