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.
Terminology ; Clinical ; Comprehension ; Nurses ; Communication

OBJECTIVESThe toxicity of microglass fibers (MG), one of the man-made mineral fibers, has not been sufficiently evaluated. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of MGin vitro.

METHODSAlveolar macrophages were obtained from the bronchoalveolar lavage of male F344/N rats. The macrophages were exposed to MG at concentrations of 0, 40, 80, 160 and 320 μg/ml. The effects of MG on the macrophages were examined by cell magnetometry, LDH assay and morphological observation.

RESULTSIn the cell magnetometry experiment, a significant delay of relaxation (the reduction of remanent magnetic field strength) was observed in the cells treated with 160 and 320 μg/ml of MG in a dose-dependent manner. A significant increase in LDH release was also observed in the cells with 160 and 320 μg/ml in a dose-dependent manner. Changes in the cytoskeleton were observed after exposure to MG by immunofluorescent microscopy using an α-tubulin antibody.

CONCLUSIONSThe cytotoxicity of MG on alveolar macrophages was demonstrated with cell magnetometry. The mechanism of the toxic effects of MG was related to cytoskeleton damage.