title: The emotive impact of orthopedic words.
abstract: Research has shown that effective communication skills are paramount for delivering efficient and quality health care. More recently, research has started to show that in addition to how the medical information is delivered, the words used by health care providers are important factors in how patients cope with illness and their reports of pain intensity and disability. In this article, we discuss the emotional impact of words used by hand specialists, the impact of the nomenclature chosen to describe orthopedic diagnosis and procedures, and provide recommendations consistent with evidence-based practice.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Medicine Services, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Wang Ambulatory Care Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. avranceanu@partners.org
authors.forename: Ana-Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Vranceanu
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elbon
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ring
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D003142:Communication; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000523:psychology; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000293:injuries; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology