[00:00:00] Have you ever left a doctor's appointment unsure what you were just told us? Researchers examined whether patients like how Doctors explain medical information. 162 undergraduate participants watched short videos of doctor patient interactions about multiple sclerosis and diabetes. Doctors used either medical jargon or plain language with or without asking the client to explain what they are supposed to do, called teachback. Participants rated each interaction using acceptability scales and completed a health literacy measure.
[00:00:34] Nearly all participants prefer plain language over medical jargon. Teach Back improves patient acceptability when the diagnosis feels unfamiliar, like multiple sclerosis, but does not add benefit for familiar conditions such as diabetes. Nearly 99% of participants say they want doctors to use plain language, and most prefer doctors to check understanding during the explanation rather than at the end. The takeaway is simple. Patients value clarity. Teach Back works best when paired with plain words and unfamiliar information. Clear communication does more than inform it builds trust and respect in healthcare conversations and likely patient health.
