52. Explaining diagnosis and management PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH IN USE FOR MEDICINE

PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH IN USE FOR MEDICINE

52. Explaining diagnosis and management

A	Explanations The final part of a consultation is the explanation which should cover: 1.       The diagnosis – identification of a disease from its signs and symptoms. √ You’re suffering from …. √ This is (mainly) because …. √ You’ve developed …. √ This is why …. √ You have …. 2.      The management plan, including investigations and treatment. √ I’ll make you an appointment with … √ You’ll be given … √ I’m going to start you on medication to … √ I expect you’ll have … √ I’m going to have you admitted to … √ They may advise … √ I’ll arrange for you to … 3.      General advice about any change in lifestyle that may be needed, for example giving up smoking or drinking less alcohol. √ The nurse will give you advice on … √ I want you to … √ You should try to give up … √ It’s important that you … 4.      The prognosis – what is likely to happen because of a disease, stressing that nothing is certain. √ I expect the treatment will … √ We can never be absolutely certain about … √ Hopefully we can … √ You should remain optimistic. 5.      Question time – where the patient can ask questions about his/her illness, √ Do you have any questions? √ Is there anything you’d like to ask?
B	Using lay terms in explanations Explanations should be given in words the patient will understand, avoiding medical jargon. Using lay terms – words familiar to people without medical knowledge – can help patients understand explanations. For a list of some common lay terms for conditions, parts of the body and medication, see Appendix VI on page 146.
C	An explanation of angina Having examined you. I’m confident that you’re suffering from angina. The heart is a pump. The more you do physically, the harder it has to work. But as we get older, the blood vessels which supply oxygen to the heart begin to harden and get furred up, so they become narrower. They can’t supply all the oxygen the heart needs. The result is the pain you feel as ngina.

EXERCISES

52.1	Match the stages of a consultation (1-4) with the sentences used (a-f). look at A and C above to help you. 1 diagnosis 2 management 3 general advice 4 prognosis
52.2	Replace the underlined words and phrases with appropriate lay terms. Look at Appendix VI on page 146 to help you. 1 Mr Harris, I’m afraid your wife’s suffered an acute cerebrovascular event. 2 The urethra runs through the middle of the prostate. 3 The reason for your nocturia is that your prostate is enlarged.
52.3	Complete the explanation of diabetes. Look at A above to help you. You’ve (1) ________________ Type 2 diabetes. This is (2) ________________  ________________ very overweight. Your body isn’t producing enough insulin. (3) ________________ you feel so thirsty and why you pass urine so frequently. It’s also the reason you have this very itchy rash and you have a problem with your eyes.

Answer key