It’s onerous to imagine, pricey readers, however the COVID-19 pandemic has been dominating headlines and newscasts for almost a yr. And which means we’re developing on a yr of being inundated with much more public well being jargon than we’re used to.
For the reason that begin of the pandemic, we’ve lined a number of COVID-related phrases (antibodies! hygiene! isolation/quarantine/social distancing!). And this week, we need to take it again to fundamentals and discuss 2 phrases which can be public well being staples. We all know it’d ache you (and your public well being diploma) to suppose unwell of those phrases — however in case you’re within the enterprise of speaking to shoppers, they actually haven’t any place on the desk. That’s proper, that is our PSA to well being communicators in all places: cease utilizing “morbidity” and “mortality.”
“Morbidity,” as you in all probability know, refers to having a illness or the signs of a illness — it’s usually used to speak concerning the fee of illness in a inhabitants, identical to “incidence.” And in well being comm, “mortality” normally means dying fee — the variety of deaths in a particular group of individuals in a particular timeframe.
These phrases are proper at residence in, say, a weekly CDC report for professionals, however they don’t belong in plain language well being supplies. And that’s okay! As a result of they’re each tremendous simple to swap out — and even skip altogether.
As an alternative of:
- The COVID-19 mortality fee is highest amongst adults ages 85 and older.
- Cigarette smoking is a typical reason behind morbidity in america.
- Vaccines will cut back morbidity and mortality from COVID-19.
Strive:
- Adults ages 85 and older are almost definitely to die from COVID-19.
- Cigarette smoking is a typical reason behind illness in america.
- People who find themselves vaccinated shall be much less more likely to get sick with COVID-19 — and much less more likely to die in the event that they do get sick.
See? Easy!
The underside line: In plain language well being supplies, skip “morbidity” and “mortality.” (In case you’re as much as your elbows in your public well being grasp’s thesis, knock your self out.)
Tweet about it: “Morbidity” and “mortality” don’t have a spot on the #PlainLanguage desk, says @CommunicateHlth. Study extra: https://bit.ly/3ibTUKC #HealthLit