Patients with hidradenitis suppurativa negatively perceive both medical and euphemistic appellations of their disease: A study from Turkey
Dermatology Practical and Conceptual, cilt.11, sa.4, 2021 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 11 Sayı: 4
- Basım Tarihi: 2021
- Doi Numarası: 10.5826/dpc.1104a92
- Dergi Adı: Dermatology Practical and Conceptual
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
- Anahtar Kelimeler: hidradenitis suppurativa, euphemism, folk name, medical appellation, psychodermatology
- Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Background: The use of medical terms and folk names (euphemisms) affect a patient's understanding of diseases and perceptions of severity. Objectives: We determine the psychological effects on patients with hidradenitis suppurativa of medical and folk names of their disease. Methods: This was a cross-sectional and exploratory study conducted at a tertiary referral university hospital in Turkey. A questionnaire on the medical and folk names of hidradenitis suppurativa was administered to 31 males and 25 females. Results: The patients expressed that they found the medical term hidradenitis suppurativa to be incomprehensible because it is a foreign term. When hearing it for the first time, it evoked negative responses such as confusion and worry about their health. Half of the patients preferred their doctors to use a more understandable and pronounceable name. More than 80% of patients expressed feeling depressed and stigmatized by the folk name of their disease. They preferred the terms boils, abscesses, or hidradenitis when referring to their disease. Conclusion: Both medical and folk names for hidradenitis suppurativa have negative effects on patients, and most patients feel stigmatized by either term.