Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42010100›Full record

ArticleJournal of general internal medicine2026

Patient Preferences for Plain-Language Alternatives to Medical Jargon in Clinical Notes.

Katherine A Allen, Michelle M Kelly, Michael B Pitt, Jordan Marmet, Emily Hause, Zachary Linneman, Scott Lunos, Rheanne Maravelas, Sage Marmet, Brett Norling and 4 more

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Article in Journal of general internal medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
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0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Katherine A AllenDepartment of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Children's Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA. katherine.allen@childrensmn.org.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8481-2724
Michelle M KellyDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
Michael B PittDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Jordan MarmetDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Emily HauseDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Zachary LinnemanDepartment of Internal Medicine, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
Scott LunosBiostatistical Design and Analysis Center, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Rheanne MaravelasDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Sage MarmetUniversity of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Brett NorlingDepartment of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Alexis QuadeDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Aarabhi S RajagopalDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Madeline SukTufts University, Boston, MA, USA.
Marissa A HendricksonDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

Funding

University of Minnesota Clinical and Translational Science Institute (UMN CTSI)UL1TR002494 · NCATS · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · PI BLAZAR, BRUCE R, WEISDORF, DANIEL J · 2018 to 2022
$34.9M
NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR002494NCATS NIH HHS UL1TR002494
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPatients are increasingly able to access their medical records, in part due to legislation mandating this access in the USA. Many terms used in medical documentation can be confusing or perceived as offensive, risking damage to the patient-clinician relationship; little evidence exists to guide alternative phrasing.

objectiveTo identify adults' preferences between traditional medical phrases and plain-language alternatives in clinical notes.

designA cross-sectional observational survey at the 2023 Minnesota State Fair.

participantsElectronic surveys were offered to adults (≥ 18 years old) who spoke or read English and did not have formal healthcare training. MAIN MEASURES: We described nine clinical scenarios and offered documentation choices using medical jargon or plain-language. We collected participants' preferred documentation option and associated free-text comments. KEY

resultsIn total, 276 respondents were recruited; 271 fully completed the survey. The mean age was 45 years; 56% were women, and 67% had a bachelor's degree or higher. Traditional medical phrases were highly unfavored compared to plain-language alternatives, including "failed outpatient treatment" (2%) vs. "did not improve" (70%); "refused antibiotics" (6%) vs. "preferred to skip" (43%) or "declined" (43%); "denies alcohol use" (16%) vs. "does not drink alcohol" (82%); and "chief complaint" (20%) vs. "reason for visit" (79%). "Non-compliant" and "non-adherent" were equally disfavored (2% each) vs. "has been unable to take" (56%) and "stopped taking the medicine" (39%). Eight qualitative themes were identified: (1) clear and thorough communication; (2) objective and accurate information; (3) direct and concise messaging; (4) empathetic, personal, and affirming language; (5) respect for patient autonomy and agency; (6) financial sensitivity in documentation; (7) recognition of patient dependency; and (8) maintenance of a formal, professional tone.

conclusionOur findings highlight a strong preference for plain-language in medical documentation, along with identifying a number of preferred alternative plain-language phrasing options.

Indexed as

communicationelectronic medical recordsmedical jargonpatient preferences

Identifiers

PMID42010100

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.