Well-chosen words: how what you say affects patient outcomes

In nurse-patient interactions, poor communication can negatively affect health outcomes. Use our tips to improve conversations with a person-centred approach

• Careless or routine use of language that undermines and belittles patients can have a negative affect on outcomes and impede self-care
• Good communication takes a patient-centred approach, avoiding language that blames or judges, listening to patients with empathy and responding with encouragement
• Tips on having more effective conversations with patients, what to say and what to avoid when discussing conditions such as diabetes and obesity

The choice of language that healthcare professionals use to talk to – or about – patients can