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I was a third-year medical student, dutifully reviewing discharge instructions with a patient and her family. The patient’s adult daughter asked, “What about that diet you put her on?” As they looked at me quizzically, I looked back equally confused, until it clicked: We needed to talk about the word diet. In everyday conversation, diet generally is understood to mean restriction of food to lose weight, which is what the family hoped would be prescribed for their obese family member. I needed to tell them that I was sorry for the misunderstanding. If they overheard us “ordering a diet,” we simply meant providing trays of hospital food.
We become so familiar with the language of our profession that we do not remember it may be foreign to our patients. In dermatology, we are aware that our specialty is full of esoteric jargon and complex concepts that need to be carefully explained to our patients in simpler terms. But since that incident in medical school, I have been interested in the more insidious potential misunderstandings that can arise from words as seemingly simple as diet. There are many examples in dermatology, particularly in the way we prescribe topical therapy and use trade names.
Topical Therapy
Instructions for systemic medications may be as simple as “take 1 pill twice daily.” Prescriptions for topical medications can be written with an equally simple patient signature such as “apply twice daily to affected area,” but the simplicity is deceptive. The direction to “apply” may seem intuitive to the prescriber, but we do not always specify the amount. Sunscreen, for example, is notoriously underapplied when the actual amount of product needed for protection is not demonstrated.1 One study of new dermatology patients given a prescription for a new topical medication found that the majority of patients underdosed.2
Determination of an “affected area,” regardless of whether the site is indicated, can be even less straightforward. In acne treatment, the affected area is the whole region prone to acne breakouts, whereas in psoriasis it may be discrete psoriatic plaques. We may believe our explanations are perfectly clear, but we have all seen patients spot treating their acne or psoriasis patients covering entire territories of normal skin with topical steroids, despite our education. One study of eczema action plans found that there was considerable variability in the way different providers described disease flares that require treatment. For example, redness was only used as a descriptor of an eczema flare in 68.2% of eczema action plans studied.3 Ensuring our patients understand our criteria for skin requiring topical treatment may mean the difference between treatment success and failure and also may help to avoid unnecessary side effects.
Adherence to topical medication regimens is poor, and inadequate patient education is only one factor.4,5 One study found that more than one-third of new prescriptions for topical medications were never even filled.6 However, improving our communication about application of topical drugs is one way we must address the complicated issue of adherence.
Trade Names
In dermatology, we often use trade names to refer to our medications, even if we do not intend to reference the brand name of the drug specifically. We may tell a patient to use Lidex (Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation) for her hands but then send an escript to her pharmacy for fluocinonide. Trade names are designed to roll off the tongue, in contrast to the unwieldy, clumsily long generic names assigned to many of our medications.
Substituting trade names may facilitate more natural conversation to promote patient understanding in some cases; however, there are pitfalls associated with this habit. First, we may be doing our patients a disservice if we do not clarify when it would be acceptable to substitute with the generic when the medication is available over-the-counter. If we decide to treat with Rogaine (Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc) but do not suggest the option of purchasing the generic minoxidil, the patient could be unnecessarily overpaying for a brand name by following our instructions.
Conversely, there are scenarios in which the use of a brand name is actually not specific enough. A patient once told me she was using Differin (Galderma Laboratories, LP) as discussed at her prior visit, but she revealed she was washing it off after application. I initially assumed she misunderstood that adapalene was a gel to be applied and left on. After additional questioning, however, it became clear that she purchased the Differin gentle cleanser, a nonmedicated facial wash, rather than the retinoid we had intended for her. I had not considered that Differin would market an entire line of skin care products but now realize we must be cautious using Differin and adapalene interchangeably. Other examples include popular over-the-counter antihistamine brands such as Allegra (Chattem, a Sanofi company) or Benadryl (Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc) that market multiple products with different active ingredients.
Final Thoughts
The smooth transfer of information between physician and patient is key to a healthy therapeutic relationship. In residency and throughout our careers, we will continue to develop and refine our communication skills to best serve our patients. We should pay particular attention to the unexpected and surprising ways in which we fail to adequately communicate, make note of these patterns, and share with our colleagues so that we can all learn from our collective experiences.
- Schneider, J. The teaspoon rule of applying sunscreen. Arch Dermatol. 2002;138:838-839.
- Storm A, Benfeldt E, Andersen SE, et al. A prospective study of patient adherence to topical treatments: 95% of patients underdose. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008;59:975-980.
- Stringer T, Yin HS, Gittler J, et al. The readability, suitability, and content features of eczema action plans in the United States. Pediatr Dermatol. 2018;35:800-807.
- Hougeir FG, Cook-Bolden FE, Rodriguez D, et al. Critical considerations on optimizing topical corticosteroid therapy. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2015;8(suppl 1):S2-S14.
- Savary J, Ortonne JP, Aractingi S. The right dose in the right place: an overview of current prescription, instruction and application modalities for topical psoriasis treatments. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2005;19:14-17.
- Storm A, Anderson SE, Benfeldt E, et al. One in 3 prescriptions are never redeemed: primary nonadherence in an outpatient clinic. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008;59:27-33.
I was a third-year medical student, dutifully reviewing discharge instructions with a patient and her family. The patient’s adult daughter asked, “What about that diet you put her on?” As they looked at me quizzically, I looked back equally confused, until it clicked: We needed to talk about the word diet. In everyday conversation, diet generally is understood to mean restriction of food to lose weight, which is what the family hoped would be prescribed for their obese family member. I needed to tell them that I was sorry for the misunderstanding. If they overheard us “ordering a diet,” we simply meant providing trays of hospital food.
We become so familiar with the language of our profession that we do not remember it may be foreign to our patients. In dermatology, we are aware that our specialty is full of esoteric jargon and complex concepts that need to be carefully explained to our patients in simpler terms. But since that incident in medical school, I have been interested in the more insidious potential misunderstandings that can arise from words as seemingly simple as diet. There are many examples in dermatology, particularly in the way we prescribe topical therapy and use trade names.
Topical Therapy
Instructions for systemic medications may be as simple as “take 1 pill twice daily.” Prescriptions for topical medications can be written with an equally simple patient signature such as “apply twice daily to affected area,” but the simplicity is deceptive. The direction to “apply” may seem intuitive to the prescriber, but we do not always specify the amount. Sunscreen, for example, is notoriously underapplied when the actual amount of product needed for protection is not demonstrated.1 One study of new dermatology patients given a prescription for a new topical medication found that the majority of patients underdosed.2
Determination of an “affected area,” regardless of whether the site is indicated, can be even less straightforward. In acne treatment, the affected area is the whole region prone to acne breakouts, whereas in psoriasis it may be discrete psoriatic plaques. We may believe our explanations are perfectly clear, but we have all seen patients spot treating their acne or psoriasis patients covering entire territories of normal skin with topical steroids, despite our education. One study of eczema action plans found that there was considerable variability in the way different providers described disease flares that require treatment. For example, redness was only used as a descriptor of an eczema flare in 68.2% of eczema action plans studied.3 Ensuring our patients understand our criteria for skin requiring topical treatment may mean the difference between treatment success and failure and also may help to avoid unnecessary side effects.
Adherence to topical medication regimens is poor, and inadequate patient education is only one factor.4,5 One study found that more than one-third of new prescriptions for topical medications were never even filled.6 However, improving our communication about application of topical drugs is one way we must address the complicated issue of adherence.
Trade Names
In dermatology, we often use trade names to refer to our medications, even if we do not intend to reference the brand name of the drug specifically. We may tell a patient to use Lidex (Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation) for her hands but then send an escript to her pharmacy for fluocinonide. Trade names are designed to roll off the tongue, in contrast to the unwieldy, clumsily long generic names assigned to many of our medications.
Substituting trade names may facilitate more natural conversation to promote patient understanding in some cases; however, there are pitfalls associated with this habit. First, we may be doing our patients a disservice if we do not clarify when it would be acceptable to substitute with the generic when the medication is available over-the-counter. If we decide to treat with Rogaine (Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc) but do not suggest the option of purchasing the generic minoxidil, the patient could be unnecessarily overpaying for a brand name by following our instructions.
Conversely, there are scenarios in which the use of a brand name is actually not specific enough. A patient once told me she was using Differin (Galderma Laboratories, LP) as discussed at her prior visit, but she revealed she was washing it off after application. I initially assumed she misunderstood that adapalene was a gel to be applied and left on. After additional questioning, however, it became clear that she purchased the Differin gentle cleanser, a nonmedicated facial wash, rather than the retinoid we had intended for her. I had not considered that Differin would market an entire line of skin care products but now realize we must be cautious using Differin and adapalene interchangeably. Other examples include popular over-the-counter antihistamine brands such as Allegra (Chattem, a Sanofi company) or Benadryl (Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc) that market multiple products with different active ingredients.
Final Thoughts
The smooth transfer of information between physician and patient is key to a healthy therapeutic relationship. In residency and throughout our careers, we will continue to develop and refine our communication skills to best serve our patients. We should pay particular attention to the unexpected and surprising ways in which we fail to adequately communicate, make note of these patterns, and share with our colleagues so that we can all learn from our collective experiences.
I was a third-year medical student, dutifully reviewing discharge instructions with a patient and her family. The patient’s adult daughter asked, “What about that diet you put her on?” As they looked at me quizzically, I looked back equally confused, until it clicked: We needed to talk about the word diet. In everyday conversation, diet generally is understood to mean restriction of food to lose weight, which is what the family hoped would be prescribed for their obese family member. I needed to tell them that I was sorry for the misunderstanding. If they overheard us “ordering a diet,” we simply meant providing trays of hospital food.
We become so familiar with the language of our profession that we do not remember it may be foreign to our patients. In dermatology, we are aware that our specialty is full of esoteric jargon and complex concepts that need to be carefully explained to our patients in simpler terms. But since that incident in medical school, I have been interested in the more insidious potential misunderstandings that can arise from words as seemingly simple as diet. There are many examples in dermatology, particularly in the way we prescribe topical therapy and use trade names.
Topical Therapy
Instructions for systemic medications may be as simple as “take 1 pill twice daily.” Prescriptions for topical medications can be written with an equally simple patient signature such as “apply twice daily to affected area,” but the simplicity is deceptive. The direction to “apply” may seem intuitive to the prescriber, but we do not always specify the amount. Sunscreen, for example, is notoriously underapplied when the actual amount of product needed for protection is not demonstrated.1 One study of new dermatology patients given a prescription for a new topical medication found that the majority of patients underdosed.2
Determination of an “affected area,” regardless of whether the site is indicated, can be even less straightforward. In acne treatment, the affected area is the whole region prone to acne breakouts, whereas in psoriasis it may be discrete psoriatic plaques. We may believe our explanations are perfectly clear, but we have all seen patients spot treating their acne or psoriasis patients covering entire territories of normal skin with topical steroids, despite our education. One study of eczema action plans found that there was considerable variability in the way different providers described disease flares that require treatment. For example, redness was only used as a descriptor of an eczema flare in 68.2% of eczema action plans studied.3 Ensuring our patients understand our criteria for skin requiring topical treatment may mean the difference between treatment success and failure and also may help to avoid unnecessary side effects.
Adherence to topical medication regimens is poor, and inadequate patient education is only one factor.4,5 One study found that more than one-third of new prescriptions for topical medications were never even filled.6 However, improving our communication about application of topical drugs is one way we must address the complicated issue of adherence.
Trade Names
In dermatology, we often use trade names to refer to our medications, even if we do not intend to reference the brand name of the drug specifically. We may tell a patient to use Lidex (Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation) for her hands but then send an escript to her pharmacy for fluocinonide. Trade names are designed to roll off the tongue, in contrast to the unwieldy, clumsily long generic names assigned to many of our medications.
Substituting trade names may facilitate more natural conversation to promote patient understanding in some cases; however, there are pitfalls associated with this habit. First, we may be doing our patients a disservice if we do not clarify when it would be acceptable to substitute with the generic when the medication is available over-the-counter. If we decide to treat with Rogaine (Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc) but do not suggest the option of purchasing the generic minoxidil, the patient could be unnecessarily overpaying for a brand name by following our instructions.
Conversely, there are scenarios in which the use of a brand name is actually not specific enough. A patient once told me she was using Differin (Galderma Laboratories, LP) as discussed at her prior visit, but she revealed she was washing it off after application. I initially assumed she misunderstood that adapalene was a gel to be applied and left on. After additional questioning, however, it became clear that she purchased the Differin gentle cleanser, a nonmedicated facial wash, rather than the retinoid we had intended for her. I had not considered that Differin would market an entire line of skin care products but now realize we must be cautious using Differin and adapalene interchangeably. Other examples include popular over-the-counter antihistamine brands such as Allegra (Chattem, a Sanofi company) or Benadryl (Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc) that market multiple products with different active ingredients.
Final Thoughts
The smooth transfer of information between physician and patient is key to a healthy therapeutic relationship. In residency and throughout our careers, we will continue to develop and refine our communication skills to best serve our patients. We should pay particular attention to the unexpected and surprising ways in which we fail to adequately communicate, make note of these patterns, and share with our colleagues so that we can all learn from our collective experiences.
- Schneider, J. The teaspoon rule of applying sunscreen. Arch Dermatol. 2002;138:838-839.
- Storm A, Benfeldt E, Andersen SE, et al. A prospective study of patient adherence to topical treatments: 95% of patients underdose. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008;59:975-980.
- Stringer T, Yin HS, Gittler J, et al. The readability, suitability, and content features of eczema action plans in the United States. Pediatr Dermatol. 2018;35:800-807.
- Hougeir FG, Cook-Bolden FE, Rodriguez D, et al. Critical considerations on optimizing topical corticosteroid therapy. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2015;8(suppl 1):S2-S14.
- Savary J, Ortonne JP, Aractingi S. The right dose in the right place: an overview of current prescription, instruction and application modalities for topical psoriasis treatments. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2005;19:14-17.
- Storm A, Anderson SE, Benfeldt E, et al. One in 3 prescriptions are never redeemed: primary nonadherence in an outpatient clinic. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008;59:27-33.
- Schneider, J. The teaspoon rule of applying sunscreen. Arch Dermatol. 2002;138:838-839.
- Storm A, Benfeldt E, Andersen SE, et al. A prospective study of patient adherence to topical treatments: 95% of patients underdose. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008;59:975-980.
- Stringer T, Yin HS, Gittler J, et al. The readability, suitability, and content features of eczema action plans in the United States. Pediatr Dermatol. 2018;35:800-807.
- Hougeir FG, Cook-Bolden FE, Rodriguez D, et al. Critical considerations on optimizing topical corticosteroid therapy. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2015;8(suppl 1):S2-S14.
- Savary J, Ortonne JP, Aractingi S. The right dose in the right place: an overview of current prescription, instruction and application modalities for topical psoriasis treatments. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2005;19:14-17.
- Storm A, Anderson SE, Benfeldt E, et al. One in 3 prescriptions are never redeemed: primary nonadherence in an outpatient clinic. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008;59:27-33.
Resident Pearl
- It is not just the esoteric jargon and complex pathophysiologic concepts in dermatology that can challenge effective communication with our patients. We face potential for misunderstanding even in situations that may seem straightforward. Vigilance in avoiding ambiguity in all our exchanges with patients can help foster therapeutic relationships and optimize patient care.
