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Clinical terminology: anxiety and confusion amongst families undergoing genetic counseling

Clinical terminology: anxiety and confusion amongst families undergoing genetic counseling
Clinical terminology: anxiety and confusion amongst families undergoing genetic counseling
Genetic counseling is a rapidly expanding, but highly demanding, domain of doctor-patient communication. This paper reports results from an ethnographic study of families (n = 30) attending a genetic counseling clinic in Northern England. We suggest that the language used in this particular specialty is often confusing and misunderstood by the families involved. We found that unfamiliar terms may also conjure up alarming images. It is important therefore, that physicians, and in particular geneticists, try to use simple, understandable language, and give clear explanations for unfamiliar terms that cannot be avoided. The careful choice of words, and detailed explanation, not only reduces the risks of “labelling” and stigmatization, but may also prevent the unnecessary anxiety experienced by patients when they hear unfamiliar medical terms, such as the eponyms frequently employed by geneticists when giving a diagnosis.

genetic counseling, families, doctor-patient communication, anxiety
0738-3991
81-91
Chapple, Alison
00321aef-923f-493c-855c-2e5dd72e95b3
Campion, Peter
0d45f849-62df-4a3e-a3e3-1da1c837bb96
May, Carl
17697f8d-98f6-40d3-9cc0-022f04009ae4
Chapple, Alison
00321aef-923f-493c-855c-2e5dd72e95b3
Campion, Peter
0d45f849-62df-4a3e-a3e3-1da1c837bb96
May, Carl
17697f8d-98f6-40d3-9cc0-022f04009ae4

Chapple, Alison, Campion, Peter and May, Carl (1997) Clinical terminology: anxiety and confusion amongst families undergoing genetic counseling. Patient Education and Counselling, 32 (1-2), 81-91. (doi:10.1016/S0738-3991(97)00065-7).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Genetic counseling is a rapidly expanding, but highly demanding, domain of doctor-patient communication. This paper reports results from an ethnographic study of families (n = 30) attending a genetic counseling clinic in Northern England. We suggest that the language used in this particular specialty is often confusing and misunderstood by the families involved. We found that unfamiliar terms may also conjure up alarming images. It is important therefore, that physicians, and in particular geneticists, try to use simple, understandable language, and give clear explanations for unfamiliar terms that cannot be avoided. The careful choice of words, and detailed explanation, not only reduces the risks of “labelling” and stigmatization, but may also prevent the unnecessary anxiety experienced by patients when they hear unfamiliar medical terms, such as the eponyms frequently employed by geneticists when giving a diagnosis.

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More information

Published date: 10 September 1997
Keywords: genetic counseling, families, doctor-patient communication, anxiety
Organisations: Health Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 163383
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/163383
ISSN: 0738-3991
PURE UUID: a9266ca5-dd50-48ed-8204-f8b638801954
ORCID for Carl May: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-0451-2690

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 17 Sep 2010 08:32
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:04

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Contributors

Author: Alison Chapple
Author: Peter Campion
Author: Carl May ORCID iD

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