P1928 - Understanding the Language Gap: Patient Comprehension of GI Terms in Clinical Practice

Akanksha Togra, MD¹, Alan Jurado, MD², Mutaz Kalas, MD³, Silpa Choday, MD⁴, Jose Sotelo, MD¹, Alejandro Robles, MD⁵
1Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, El Paso, TX; 2Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX; 3Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, El Paso, TX; 4Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ; 5Department of Gastroenterology, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso , TX, El Paso, TX

Introduction: Healthcare professionals often tend to use common jargon when speaking with patients. Although these terms may sound familiar, they can carry different meanings in medical context. While this language ensures precision among healthcare professionals, it can lead to misunderstanding and serious consequences for patients. In this study, we aim to characterize the understanding of common medical jargon terms utilizing a questionnaire-based survey.

Methods: This is a cross sectional, questionnaire-based study, conducted in patients or their attendants visiting Gastroenterology clinic at Texas Tech University Health Sciences, El Paso. Participants indicated their understanding of common terms or phrases, by answer to multiple-choice questions. that may have different meanings in medicine than in colloquial English/ Spanish language. Ten questions included paired phrases to assess for differences in understanding with or without jargon. This study was conducted after approval by TTUHSC Institutional Review Board.

Results: Total 245 participated in the study between July to October 2024. There were 159(64.90%) females and 86(35.10%) males. Mean age (SD) of participants was 58.58 (15.61) years. Overall correct responses were 67.79% and incorrect responses were 33.21% with range for 16.89% to 96.36% individual question/ phrase. Interestingly, there was no statistically difference in correct responses in participants with 3 different educational level (no to elementary education level, mid to high school education level and bachelor degree or above), p-value is 0.0946. Similar trends are seen on subgroup analysis. Further, there was no statistically difference in correct responses in participants with different age groups (divided in 4 age groups), p-value is 0.3922.

Discussion: These findings suggest that many common phrases are misunderstood by patients and their attendants when used in a medical setting, with the interpreted meaning frequently very different from what is intended. Our study indicates around 30% of commonly used phrases are inadequately understood, this can lead to problems in compliance and patient treatment. Thus, usage of phrases and common medical terms needs to be optimized for adequate communication patient understanding and compliance.

Disclosures:
Akanksha Togra indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Alan Jurado indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Mutaz Kalas indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Silpa Choday indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Jose Sotelo indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Alejandro Robles indicated no relevant financial relationships.

Akanksha Togra, MD¹, Alan Jurado, MD², Mutaz Kalas, MD³, Silpa Choday, MD⁴, Jose Sotelo, MD¹, Alejandro Robles, MD⁵. P1928 - Understanding the Language Gap: Patient Comprehension of GI Terms in Clinical Practice, ACG 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting Abstracts. Phoenix, AZ: American College of Gastroenterology.