Clinical Nurses' Understanding of Loanwords, Abbreviations and Jargon, and the Actual Such Terms in the Clinical Setting
10.2185/jjrm.55.610
- Author:
Kumiko KIRITA
;
Hisako OKAZAKI
;
Rika YATSUSHIRO
;
Shinji MIYAUCHI
;
Gerald T. SHIRLEY
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Terminology;
Clinical;
Comprehension;
Nurses;
Communication
- From:Journal of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine
2006;55(6):610-617
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
In this study, the actual usage of loanwords, abbreviations, and jargon (terminology) in the hands-on clinical setting and clinical nurses' understanding of terminology were examined. A glossary of terminology that caused communication problems was compiled in order to contribute to the improvement of communication among nurses and between nurses and physicians. A total of 1,000 nurses in six hospitals in Prefecture, A Japan, were asked to fill out a questionnaire prepared by us. A total of 163 examples of terminology that were incomprehensible to them and caused communication problems were extracted from the survey findings and used in the glossary of terminology. Of the 748 respondents, 97% said that they used special terms, and 81.6% said they had encountered terminology that they were unable to understand. Among the latter, 9.1% had experienced problems through the use of terminology. Some of the problems cited were [lack of comprehension by the listener], [delay in treatment], etc. Concerning the necessity of terminology, 44.5% responded that it was either [necessary] or [very necessary]. Examples of terminology that many respondents had difficulty understanding were [suteru] and [takiru], among others. The use of terminology, which can deliver information quickly and concisely to a listener, plays a large role in the performance of nursing duties, but the inherent danger of bringing about a medical accident was also indicated. In addition, it was suggested that as a specialist working in an important clinical setting concerned with people's lives, each nurse should keep in mind that it is extremely important to understand the correct meaning of technical terms and to use them appropriately.
