Concepts Without Explanation (CWE) 2

It's easy to disable people with a word. We can all do it if we deal with patients with health problems of various kinds. They are vulnerable and looking for explanations and understanding. When you give your opinion, they take the idea and convert it into their understanding, often in a visual form, as an image of what is going on.

CWE word of the moment: ARTHRITIS

This is a very powerful word with important meanings for lay people. It conjures up images of destroyed joints, disability and pain. Since arthritis is technically one of the most common conditions in the world this may not be the best way of thinking about it.

As physios or other health workers we are in a great position to do this well. Or badly!

One of the things I have learned in many years working in a hospital is that you should never underestimate the depth of someone's ignorance about their body. That doesn't mean you think they are stupid or patronise them, but don't be surprised when their view of what's going on makes no sense at all. It's our business to find out what these views are and help people towards what we would think of as more realistic interpretations.

Most people have no idea at all what arthritis means. It is usually interpreted as being very negative, as spreading round the body and as being the end of normal function. As such it generates a lot of anxiety.

So using this word comes with a lot of anxiety and we have to be aware of that and offer explanations to clarify the true meaning of the concept as it applies to the patient in front of us. Saying "wear and tear" or " joint damage" may well add up to the same thing so needs the same care.

Over time you develop a "politically correct" dictionary of terms to help you patients understand what their condition means and with the least chance of misinterpretation. That takes some care and the ability to question, listen and respond. So how do you explain? Yes, I'll get onto that another time, along with more danger words from the CWE dictionary.