Bridging the Gap: Hospital Clinicians’ Challenges and Preparedness in Using Non-Stigmatizing Language in Clinical Documentation

Highlight

This multicenter survey studied internal medicine residents, faculty, and advanced practice providers’ (APPs) knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding stigmatizing language in clinical documentation. Despite widespread recognition of the importance of thoughtful word choice, only a minority felt confident that their notes avoided stigmatizing language. Moreover, very few correctly identified all stigmatizing terms in a knowledge test, pointing to critical gaps in clinician preparedness. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted educational interventions and system-level supports to promote patient-centered documentation and reduce implicit bias in clinical records.

Study Background