Ellen Phiddian
Cosmos science journalist
Medicine is famous for its jargon, and adults regularly have trouble interpreting it.
That goes double for kids, according to a study in Pediatrics.
The researchers found that children frequently misunderstand medical and hospital terms, with misconceptions ranging from cute to concerning.
The researchers ran a study on children aged 4-12 at a state fair in the USA.
They found that children had clear understandings of some phrases, like negative test results for COVID-19, but made incorrect assumptions about other phrases.
Some of the misunderstandings were literal – for instance, children could assume that a CAT scan involved cats.
But others could be sinister. Some children thought that being “put to sleep” for surgery was the same process as their pet being put to sleep, meaning they would never wake up.
Many of them also thought that being “transferred to the floor” meant they’d have to sleep on the floor, or being “seen by surgery” meant they’d definitely be getting surgery.
“Unlike adults, kids may be less likely to speak up or seek clarification, meaning these misinterpretations can become their reality,” says co-author Professor Michael Pitt, a pediatrician and researcher at the University of Minnesota, USA.
“This is why it is so important for clinicians to use clear language – even for seemingly simple terms – to reduce fear and improve the child’s medical experience.”
As well as aiming to avoid jargon, the researchers recommend that healthcare professionals regularly check in with children to confirm they understand.
The researchers want to know more about how age influences comprehension, and how best to phrase jargon terms with children. They’re planning to conduct more research at a state fair in 2025.
