An article published in the March issue of the AMA Journal of Ethics argues that healthcare providers should be recognize patients’ potential lack of health literacy as a means to enhance shared decision making (SDM) and improve outcomes. 

The authors write that the "patient-clinician communication necessary to achieve SDM depends on many factors, not the least of which is a shared language (sometimes with the aid of a medical interpreter). However, even when a patient and clinician are speaking the same mother tongue, the use of medical jargon can pose a large and unnecessary barrier." The article offers examples of patient encounters and offers suggestions on improving provider-patient communication. Learn more...