OBJECTIVES: To explore the interpretation of words commonly used to describe lumps. Specific words were explored to assess their understandability and implication of threat to the patient. METHODS: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was undertaken. Age, gender, level of education, employment and socio-economic group were determined. The questionnaire explored the following words: malignant, tumour, carcinoma, lymphoma, sarcoma, lipoma, lymph node, nodule, ganglion, benign, cyst and gland. Participants comprised 204 consecutive adult patients attending the ENT out-patient clinic at a Bristol teaching hospital. RESULTS: Patients found 'malignant' and 'tumour' the most threatening words and were most unsure of the meaning of 'sarcoma' and 'lipoma'. Nineteen per cent (n = 37) thought a 'benign' lump was a cancer. Results did not significantly differ between demographic groups. CONCLUSIONS: A significant misunderstanding of some words commonly used to describe lumps was found. This study provides important guidance on which terms to use and which to avoid in consultations with patients.
OBJECTIVES: To explore the interpretation of words commonly used to describe lumps. Specific words were explored to assess their understandability and implication of threat to the patient. METHODS: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was undertaken. Age, gender, level of education, employment and socio-economic group were determined. The questionnaire explored the following words: malignant, tumour, carcinoma, lymphoma, sarcoma, lipoma, lymph node, nodule, ganglion, benign, cyst and gland. Participants comprised 204 consecutive adult patients attending the ENT out-patient clinic at a Bristol teaching hospital. RESULTS:Patients found 'malignant' and 'tumour' the most threatening words and were most unsure of the meaning of 'sarcoma' and 'lipoma'. Nineteen per cent (n = 37) thought a 'benign' lump was a cancer. Results did not significantly differ between demographic groups. CONCLUSIONS: A significant misunderstanding of some words commonly used to describe lumps was found. This study provides important guidance on which terms to use and which to avoid in consultations with patients.
Authors: Ken Ho; Maria Fleseriu; Ursula Kaiser; Roberto Salvatori; Thierry Brue; M Beatriz Lopes; Pamela Kunz; Mark Molitch; Sally A Camper; Mônica Gadelha; Luis V Syro; Edward Laws; Martin Reincke; Hiroshi Nishioka; Ashley Grossman; Ariel Barkan; Felipe Casanueva; John Wass; Adam Mamelak; Laurence Katznelson; Aart J van der Lely; Sally Radovick; Martin Bidlingmaier; Margaret Boguszewski; Jens Bollerslev; Andrew R Hoffman; Nelson Oyesiku; Gerald Raverot; Anat Ben-Shlomo; Rob Fowkes; Ilan Shimon; Hidenori Fukuoka; Alberto M Pereira; Yona Greenman; Anthony P Heaney; Mark Gurnell; Gudmundur Johannsson; Robert Y Osamura; Michael Buchfelder; Maria Chiara Zatelli; Marta Korbonits; Philippe Chanson; Nienke Biermasz; David R Clemmons; Niki Karavitaki; Marcello D Bronstein; Peter Trainer; Shlomo Melmed Journal: J Endocr Soc Date: 2021-02-09