Common maxillofacial terminology: do our patients understand what we say?

ABSTRACT

UNLABELLED For a patient to make appropriate, informed decisions regarding their medical care, it is vital that the information given to them is complete and comprehensible. We have investigated patients' understanding of commonly used terms in an oral and maxillofacial clinic. To the authors' knowledge, this pertinent subject has not previously been explored for this specialty. METHOD: Patients were recruited for this questionnaire-based study in the oral and maxillofacial department out-patient clinics. The questionnaire includes multiple choice questions and 'free text' answers. RESULTS: All patients were invited to participate and we have shown the results of the 100 consecutive patients who agreed to take part. The 100 patients recruited ranged between the ages of 16 and 75. English was the first language for 76 participants. The term 'mandible' was correctly defined by 37 respondents. Sixty per cent of patients' think that a fracture is a 'crack' and less severe than a broken bone. CONCLUSION: Common maxillofacial jargon can easily be misunderstood by patients. It is essential that all clinicians appropriately modify their language during consultations in order to deliver information in a comprehensive manner, to educate patients on their condition and to ensure sensible decision making by patients.