Patient-centeredness and inclusive language use in health care – pedagogical considerations

Marshall, Barbara and Zimonyi-Bakó, Alexandra (2025) Patient-centeredness and inclusive language use in health care – pedagogical considerations. PORTA LINGUA (1). pp. 53-58. ISSN 1785-2420

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Abstract

Inclusive language use is part of patient-centered communication, but only if applied in a sensitive, personalized, adaptive manner because its purpose is to support diversity, create an open and inclusive environment, and promote equal rights and opportunities to all interlocutors in a healthcare situation. However, if inclusive language use recommendations are considered rules to follow, it can easily backfire and may even cause harm to both patients and healthcare providers. The most problematic part of implementing inclusive language use recommendations is that it touches on the core belief systems of each participant in a healthcare situation. Therefore, several issues must be addressed when teaching inclusive language use to healthcare providers or students. A supportive environment must be created for students where they can be open to other people’s beliefs and explore their own. Accordingly, students may have to face that they are not as sensitive as they think and their own vulnerabilities may surface as well. These tasks require a holistic approach, simultaneously engaging students’ intellects and emotions. Furthermore, it must be noted that change and development in these intellectual and emotional processes take time and do not happen at the same pace and level due to students’ individual differences.

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