Tuesday 20th Oct 2020
Jargon Blacklist
The following jargon have been provided by the community. If you would like to contribute a jargon please click on the Add to Jargon Blacklist button.
| What jargon term annoys you the most? | Why? |
|---|---|
| tools for my toolkit | meaningless drivel. |
| RDP | IT specific abbreviation that users may not know or understand. RDP stands for Remote Desktop Protocol and is a Microsoft software to access workplaces remotely. |
| online | During the era of Windows 95, doing things "online" was a new thing. Now in the 21st century, most people understand many activities can be done using the internet. An online webinar, or an online form are just the worst examples! |
| PBS | I've worked at a pharmacy to 2 years and I still don't know what it means let alone be able to explain it to customers. |
| Consumers | Consumers are people. They don't eat services or clinicians! What is wrong with calling them people and preferably by their actual name??? |
| Carers | We are people first. We are mothers, sisters, brothers, fathers, and friends. Caring is a bi-product of our relationship with the person. |
| Touching base | not direct, vague, should be discuss, meet, talk, telephone call etc. |
| Jargon Blacklist | Jargon Blacklist can have very negative connotations in Australia and other countries relating to the trade union movement. to be blacklisted is not a choice and with this comes unpleasant repercussions for people. Jargon Junk or Jargon Junk List could be a better title for calling out jargon in the workplace. |
| People with a disability speaking for themselves | People with a disability or mental illness should be able to speak for themselves. Medical staff, community services, local governments, families and cares should become aware of when it is good to advocate and when it is great to let people use their voices. |
| 1-up | Because it should be 1-op as in 1 operator |
| Rusty Trombone | My GF keeps asking for one and I assume it is some sort of dessert? |
| Brain Storming | Brain Storming is a commonly used term use in Australia for meetings. On the 20th of June 2008 City Councils in UK banned the use of this word as "Brain Storming" is a term associated and a symptom of a specific neurological disease. |
| A bit on the Spectrum | saying that a child or adult is a bit on the spectrum? People are either autistic or they are not. |
| When jargon keeps changing | I can't keep up with changes and even if I wanted to tell my clients I don't know what it is. Or what acronyms are? |
| compliant | It's disempowering for the person you are working with, it removes choice, and is autocratic. Primary and community health workers are not enforcers and have no reason to use this term. |
| Stakeholders | Because people holding stakes usually also hold a hammer. When talking about health or public services we hold people in our hands not stakes |
| Using the word - Agency | It is not used in everyday conversations about making choices and decisions as it was used in a talk about managing self care. Agency for most people is a word that describes a building, business or organization. Lets drop using this word! |
| Quorum | it's totally outdated and old fashioned - can we not just agree that we have enough committee members present?!! |
| tachycardia | A patient will understand "fast heart reate" more quickly - why say tachycardia then have to explain what it is? |
| hypertension | Just tell a patient they have high blood pressure - many don't understand the word. |
| What jargon term annoys you the most? | Why? |
Why should I pledge?
6 out of 10 of people in Australia have low health literacy.
Many Australians have trouble understanding and using information provided by organisations. They also have trouble navigating complicated systems like healthcare services.
When we use jargon, technical terms or acronyms, it is hard for people with low health literacy to understand and use information.
Pledge and take part in activities at your workplace. Make it easy for people with low health literacy to get better information and outcomes from services they use.
Pledge to Drop the Jargon
- Use plain language in all communication – with other staff and with clients
- Not use acronyms
- Explain medical and other technical terminology
- Check that information has been understood by your clients
- Work with a professional interpreter when your clients have low English proficiency
- Politely point out when your colleagues use jargon