Patient Understanding of Medical Terminology

A descriptive study in which fifty adult patients in a small, rural, mid-western hospital were surveyed by a 50-item multiple choice questionnaire to examine patient understanding of common medical terminology. The structured questionnaires were administered and evaluated to determine if there was a significant difference between medical staff or patients' perceived knowledge and the patients' actual knowledge of medical terminology. A statistically significant difference was found between medical staff expected patient understanding and actual patient understanding. The independent variables of education and self-perceived knowledge were found to be significant predictors of actual patient understanding. Identification of a deficit in patient understanding could prompt the development of nursing school and health care staff educational programs directed toward increasing awareness and promoting the development of effective communication techniques and patient education methods.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Nursing

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nursing

Year

2000

Author dc:creator

• Higgins, Mina

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kathryn Hope

• Nursing

Statement dc:rights

• © Mina Higgins

Repository record dc:identifier

https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/887

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:bearworks.missouristate.edu:theses-1888