Healthcare Language Research Articles

The clinical educator’s guide to fostering learner motivation: AMEE Guide No. 137

Motivation theory and research remain underused by health professions educators. Some educators say it can seem too abstract. To address this, we applied health care language to learner motivation theories. Using a familiar metaphor, we examined the indications, mechanism of action, administration, and monitoring of learner motivation interventions. Similar to the treatment monographs in medicine compendia, we summarized each motivation intervention in the form of a monograph. The purpose of this guide is for health professions educators to develop an understanding of when (i.e. indication) and how (i.e. mechanism of action) learner motivation interventions work. With this information, they can then access ready-to-implement strategies (i.e. administration) to increase their learner interest and assess the effects of these interventions (i.e. monitoring).

MY ABILITIES FIRST: Positive language in health care.

MY ABILITIES FIRST: Positive language in health care.

Word Embedding for the French Natural Language in Health Care: Comparative Study.

BackgroundWord embedding technologies, a set of language modeling and feature learning techniques in natural language processing (NLP), are now used in a wide range of applications. However, no formal evaluation and comparison have been made on the ability of each of the 3 current most famous unsupervised implementations (Word2Vec, GloVe, and FastText) to keep track of the semantic similarities existing between words, when trained on the same dataset.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to compare embedding methods trained on a corpus of French health-related documents produced in a professional context. The best method will then help us develop a new semantic annotator.MethodsUnsupervised embedding models have been trained on 641,279 documents originating from the Rouen University Hospital. These data are not structured and cover a wide range of documents produced in a clinical setting (discharge summary, procedure reports, and prescriptions). In total, 4 rated evaluation tasks were defined (cosine similarity, odd one, analogy-based operations, and human formal evaluation) and applied on each model, as well as embedding visualization.ResultsWord2Vec had the highest score on 3 out of 4 rated tasks (analogy-based operations, odd one similarity, and human validation), particularly regarding the skip-gram architecture.ConclusionsAlthough this implementation had the best rate for semantic properties conservation, each model has its own qualities and defects, such as the training time, which is very short for GloVe, or morphological similarity conservation observed with FastText. Models and test sets produced by this study will be the first to be publicly available through a graphical interface to help advance the French biomedical research.

Body language in health care: a contribution to nursing communication.

to classify body language used in nursing care, and propose "Body language in nursing care" as an analytical category for nursing communication. quantitative research with the systematic observation of 21:43 care situations, with 21 members representing the nursing teams of two hospitals. Empirical categories: sound, facial, eye and body expressions. sound expressions emphasized laughter. Facial expressions communicated satisfaction and happiness. Eye contact with members stood out in visual expressions. The most frequent body expressions were head movements and indistinct touches. nursing care team members use body language to establish rapport with patients, clarify their needs and plan care. The study classified body language characteristics of humanized care, which involves, in addition to technical, non-technical issues arising from nursing communication.

Interpretation in Cross-Language Research: Tongues-Tied in the Health Care Interview?

Medication prescribing and use is a normative aspect of health care for the elderly, rendering medication taking by elderly persons problematic. In an earlier qualitative study, we examined how medicine-use is negotiated (used/refused/resisted, and assessed against expected outcomes) by older persons with limited fluency in English-the main language of health care in the study setting. In the present article, we describe a reflexive methodological review of that study's design, with a particular focus placed on interpreter-mediated data collection. We illustrate that what was heard in open-ended interviews (what became data) was influenced by not only what was asked and how, but also by how the interpreter 'heard' and conveyed dialogue to and from study participants. We illustrate differing accounts of the dialogue between an interviewer and participant provided via real-time interpretation and through a reflexive re-interpretation of talk-to-text transcripts, reflecting the different stakes in the research, and different capital available to study- and review-interpreters. Implications for research design and practice of cross-cultural and cross-language research are highlighted.

Clinical Governmentality: A Critical Linguistic Perspective on Clinical Governance in Health Care Organizations

The introduction of clinical governance policies in the UK offers an opportunity to explore the links between organizations, politics and language in health care. This paper attempts to theorise the links between symbolic and ideological formations and health care practitioners’ accounts in one mental health care trust as a clinical governance initiative was implemented. Drawing on Fairclough, Foucault and Bourdieu, we attempt to situate the practices, formulations and identities of health care staff in a way that allows us to show the links between policy, professional identity and language. The data suggested that whilst there was widespread acceptance of the clinical governance concept this had resulted in little change in practice with clients. However, the major reconfigurations seemed to have taken place in personal and professional identity and the identities preferred amongst the clients. This had to do with ‘feeling listened to’ whilst the process of implementation was left to ‘grow organically’ and was what they were ‘supposed to be doing anyway’ whilst the clients were increasingly asked to be experts on their own care. The implementation of the policy thus involves reorganising symbolic capital so that adopting clinical governance represented a recapitalisation of the self with new experiences, skills, ideas and practices. This highlights the importance of drawing on critical theories and notions of identity and governmentality in doing applied linguistic analysis in health care institutions.

Book Review: Medical Terminology: The Language of Health Care, Second Edition

Book Review: <i>Medical Terminology: The Language of Health Care, Second Edition</i>

Changing language of health care

Changing language of health care

THE LANGUAGE OF HEALTH CARE: The language of health care

We can't lose our sense of humour just because Harry Cayton (JRSM October 2006) doesn't like it. All professions have amusing codes for their customers. He takes exception to the term ‘frequent flyer’ applied to those who use hospitals a lot. Many of my cancer patients are delighted to be gold members and refer to it with pride. But he's quite right about patronization and lack of customer focus. We could do well to take lessons from the travel industry. People don't get admitted and discharged from hotels—they check in and check out. They book services rather than get referred for them. The NHS uses the language of passivity, not empowerment. The Choose and Book scheme is a poor man's version of buying a budget airline ticket. Most people haven't a clue what the options are. Real choice occurs when consumers have real cheque books. Competing outlets vie for their trade by providing user-friendly interfaces. Mobile phones are used equally well by all in society—rich or poor, black or white, young or old. Harry wants patient-centred health care. So let's open the doors to a dynamic, competing marketplace and not a state monopoly. But his designation will have to go. Vodafone doesn't have a Director for Customers with the implication of line management over the people that are paying his salary. And the word patient goes back to the Greek pathos, meaning suffering. The cancer charities encourage us to talk about ‘people living with cancer’ or, even more PC ‘those whose lives have been touched by cancer’—but certainly not ‘cancer victims’, so loved by the media. This Journal should sponsor a competition to find Harry a more suitable designation.

THE LANGUAGE OF HEALTH CARE: The language of health care

We can't lose our sense of humour just because Harry Cayton (JRSM October 2006) doesn't like it. All professions have amusing codes for their customers. He takes exception to the term ‘frequent flyer’ applied to those who use hospitals a lot. Many of my cancer patients are delighted to be gold members and refer to it with pride. But he's quite right about patronization and lack of customer focus. We could do well to take lessons from the travel industry. People don't get admitted and discharged from hotels—they check in and check out. They book services rather than get referred for them. The NHS uses the language of passivity, not empowerment. The Choose and Book scheme is a poor man's version of buying a budget airline ticket. Most people haven't a clue what the options are. Real choice occurs when consumers have real cheque books. Competing outlets vie for their trade by providing user-friendly interfaces. Mobile phones are used equally well by all in society—rich or poor, black or white, young or old. Harry wants patient-centred health care. So let's open the doors to a dynamic, competing marketplace and not a state monopoly. But his designation will have to go. Vodafone doesn't have a Director for Customers with the implication of line management over the people that are paying his salary. And the word patient goes back to the Greek pathos, meaning suffering. The cancer charities encourage us to talk about ‘people living with cancer’ or, even more PC ‘those whose lives have been touched by cancer’—but certainly not ‘cancer victims’, so loved by the media. This Journal should sponsor a competition to find Harry a more suitable designation.

THE LANGUAGE OF HEALTH CARE: Cycling is not more dangerous than walking

Sonkin et al.1 focused on fatality rates per mile travelled in comparing risk to children walking, cycling and being driven. Fatality rates per mile travelled for children aged 0-14 years were 30 times greater for pedestrians and 50 times greater for cyclists than for those carried in cars. Walking and cycling appear very dangerous, cycling especially so, whereas being driven is safe. Let us take the 0.55 deaths per 10 million miles for child cyclists: what kind of a risk is this in everyday terms? Suppose an individual cycled 100 000 miles in their life, all at the fatality rate of a child cyclist. The accumulated lifetime risk of death would be less than 0.5%. This does not appear to be much of a risk amongst all the other hazards of life. It is a good deal lower than the lifetime risk of driving in most industrialized countries—and driving does not benefit health as cycling does. Risk comparisons should be based on hourly risk and annual risk. This will account for the great disparity in mobility between humanpowered and mechanised travel Most child cyclists are boys, while child pedestrians are split evenly between girls and boys.2 Almost 90% of child cyclist deaths are boys.3 The higher fatality rate for cyclists vis-a-vis pedestrians is due to the preponderance of boy cyclists. It does not mean that cycling is much more dangerous than walking for children.

Genre analysis: a means of learning more about the language of health care

Genre analysis is a means of examining the context of spoken and written language. It can, therefore, help practitioners to learn more about the language of health care. This article by Susan Ford-Sumner considers some of the literature relevant to the use of genre analysis in relation to health care, and proposes that genre analysis can help in the development of cultural sensitivity in relation to health-related texts and assessment documents.

Causal thinking and causal language in health care: Introduction to the theme

Causal thinking and causal language in health care: Introduction to the theme

Medical Terminology Systems: A Body Systems Approach, ed 5

Gylys BA, Wedding ME. Philadelphia, PA 19103, FA Davis Co, 2005, paperback, 559 pp, illus, ISBN: 0-8036-1249-4, $46.95. Health care professionals must be able to communicate effectively with each other and with patients, both verbally and in writing. Patients and clients need information and instruction in terms that are clear and accessible to the layperson. But communication among health care professionals requires that practitioners use technical language and medical terminology to convey information concisely and unambiguously. These 2 medical terminology texts are straightforward and uncomplicated resources for those in health care and for the layperson, and they attempt to explain and teach the language of health care and medicine. Medical Terminology Simplified: A Programmed Learning Approach by Body Systems is meant to provide an easy and quick way to learn basic medical terminology. The programmed-learning approach uses a word-building method to develop vocabulary in a workbook format. Readers actively participate in learning by filling in blanks as they read the text, completing interpretive activities as new terms are introduced and reinforced, and answering matching questions that reflect current usage. The step-by-step …

Health care services and Pap testing behavior for Chinese women in British Columbia.

The health care services and sociodemographic profiles of Chinese women residing in each of five neighborhoods of Vancouver and Richmond, British Columbia, were examined and compared to Pap testing rates. Information was collected from the provincial medical directory, the cervical cancer screening program, and a community-based survey. A total of 159 Chinese primary care physicians, 3 Chinese gynecologists, and 9 health clinics were identified within these neighborhoods and 769 Chinese women responded to the survey. Significant differences were found between neighborhoods in Pap testing rates, with Chinatown having the lowest rates. Differences between neighborhoods were also found in the availability of Chinese language health care services, sociodemographic profiles of the Chinese population, individual preferences and experiences with health care services, which were also related to Pap testing rates. The implications of these findings upon the planning of effective health care services within local neighborhoods are discussed.

Language in health care is a deadly serious business

Language in health care is a deadly serious business

Language of health care.

Language of health care.

Health care provision: the six key players.

The new language of health care tends to assume a duality between purchasers and providers. This article argues that, in fact, a plurality of groups are involved with health services. These include not only purchasers and providers, but politicians, policy developers, practitioners and punters. The author suggests that attention should be focused on the true experience of health services, where practitioners and punters meet.

The Modern Language of Health Care (or the Language of Modern Health Care)

The Modern Language of Health Care (or the Language of Modern Health Care)

Reflections upon directive language in health care

This article presents examples of types of terms and phrases which play an immensely important but often unrecognized role in shaping health care. The need for heightened awareness of the various effects of different types of language is emphasized, and distinctions of ‘working’, vs ‘descriptive’ words, and ‘manifest’ vs ‘mystical’ terms are introduced. Directive language typically arouses emotional responses which, if constructively ‘directed’, can provide a valuable energy source for the betterment of health care. Conversely, however, directive phrases may also create barriers to such improvement. A thoughtful approach to the creation and usage of such terms is therefore vital to the maximation of their positive impact.