Table 1 Open in new tab Examples of...

Try this…

Instead of this..

Rationale

Reports no chest pain

Denies chest pain

Use of the term ‘deny’ suggests untrustworthiness and casts doubt on the validity of the patient’s experiences

Difficulty taking medication due to…

Non-compliant

Use of the term non-compliant, can imply that the person is uncooperative, especially when used as adjective to describe the person rather than the behaviour.

Person who smokes

Smoker

Categorising a person by their health behaviour, has a negative connation and perpetuates stigma

People with or living with heart disease

Heart patient

The term ‘heart patient’ defines the person as their health condition. It is important to recognize that the patients we care for are more than just their diagnosis. Emphasizing the person’s ability to live with heart disease has a more positive connotation

Patient declined treatment

Patient refused treatment

Use of the term ‘refused’ has a negative connotation and disregards the beliefs, preferences and other constraints on the individual, including the wider determinants of health

Treatment was not effective for the patient

Patient failed treatment

The connotation with the term ‘fail’ is that blame lies with the patient for the treatment not working. Patients do not fail treatments, treatments fail patients. Language needs to be empathic and non-judgemental

Is x (heart valve surgery, pharmacological or behavioural etc) the most appropriate intervention for this patient?

Is this patient suitable for xx intervention (medical or surgical)?

This puts the intervention before the person.

Participants, people, individuals or patients depending on the context

Research subjects

The term ‘subject’ is passive and does not acknowledge the active and vital role of individuals participating in research.

Table 1

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Examples of suggested changes to terminology related to cardiovascular disease

Try this…	Instead of this..	Rationale
Reports no chest pain	Denies chest pain	Use of the term ‘deny’ suggests untrustworthiness and casts doubt on the validity of the patient’s experiences
Difficulty taking medication due to…	Non-compliant	Use of the term non-compliant, can imply that the person is uncooperative, especially when used as adjective to describe the person rather than the behaviour.
Person who smokes	Smoker	Categorising a person by their health behaviour, has a negative connation and perpetuates stigma
People with or living with heart disease	Heart patient	The term ‘heart patient’ defines the person as their health condition. It is important to recognize that the patients we care for are more than just their diagnosis. Emphasizing the person’s ability to live with heart disease has a more positive connotation
Patient declined treatment	Patient refused treatment	Use of the term ‘refused’ has a negative connotation and disregards the beliefs, preferences and other constraints on the individual, including the wider determinants of health
Treatment was not effective for the patient	Patient failed treatment	The connotation with the term ‘fail’ is that blame lies with the patient for the treatment not working. Patients do not fail treatments, treatments fail patients. Language needs to be empathic and non-judgemental
Is x (heart valve surgery, pharmacological or behavioural etc) the most appropriate intervention for this patient?	Is this patient suitable for xx intervention (medical or surgical)?	This puts the intervention before the person.
Participants, people, individuals or patients depending on the context	Research subjects	The term ‘subject’ is passive and does not acknowledge the active and vital role of individuals participating in research.

Try this…	Instead of this..	Rationale
Reports no chest pain	Denies chest pain	Use of the term ‘deny’ suggests untrustworthiness and casts doubt on the validity of the patient’s experiences
Difficulty taking medication due to…	Non-compliant	Use of the term non-compliant, can imply that the person is uncooperative, especially when used as adjective to describe the person rather than the behaviour.
Person who smokes	Smoker	Categorising a person by their health behaviour, has a negative connation and perpetuates stigma
People with or living with heart disease	Heart patient	The term ‘heart patient’ defines the person as their health condition. It is important to recognize that the patients we care for are more than just their diagnosis. Emphasizing the person’s ability to live with heart disease has a more positive connotation
Patient declined treatment	Patient refused treatment	Use of the term ‘refused’ has a negative connotation and disregards the beliefs, preferences and other constraints on the individual, including the wider determinants of health
Treatment was not effective for the patient	Patient failed treatment	The connotation with the term ‘fail’ is that blame lies with the patient for the treatment not working. Patients do not fail treatments, treatments fail patients. Language needs to be empathic and non-judgemental
Is x (heart valve surgery, pharmacological or behavioural etc) the most appropriate intervention for this patient?	Is this patient suitable for xx intervention (medical or surgical)?	This puts the intervention before the person.
Participants, people, individuals or patients depending on the context	Research subjects	The term ‘subject’ is passive and does not acknowledge the active and vital role of individuals participating in research.

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