The myth of doctors’ illegible handwriting
Many patients, after a medical consultation, find themselves with a prescription in hand that they struggle to decipher. Poor handwriting by doctors has almost become a cliché. But what is behind this habit which seems widespread among health professionals? Let’s delve deeper into the reasons that contribute to this characteristic so familiar in the medical field.
A symbol of excessive workload
One of the most obvious explanations is due to the sustained pace of work encountered by doctors in the practice of their profession. Between successive consultations, emergencies to manage, and administrative paperwork, practitioners often find little time to take care of their calligraphy. This frantic pace encourages the emergence of rapid and sometimes sloppy writing, to the great dismay of patients and pharmacists.
The Impact of Fatigue
Fatigue also plays a major role. After long hours of work, the concentration needed to maintain neat writing can erode. The medical profession, subject to sometimes exhausting guard duty, is not immune to this drop in vigilance which has an impact on the clarity of their script.
Medical education and training
Medical education himself contributes to the withering of doctors’ writing. During their studies, they must take notes quickly and efficiently, a practice which, repeated to excess, tends to degrade the quality of handwriting. This habit acquired on the faculty benches is often perpetuated in clinical practice.
Computerization and generation of reports
With the advent of computerization of medical records, keyboarding has replaced manual writing. This transition has the corollary of a lack of practice in writing by hand. However, there are times when they have to quickly write prescriptions or certificates, thus amplifying the defects in their spelling.
A symbol of professional belonging
Handwriting specific to doctors also proves to be an element of identification within the profession. This can be seen as a distinctive sign, a mark of belonging to a group which, through its knowledge, has its own language, including in its writing. However, this singularity has its downsides, particularly in terms of readability.
Technicality of medical vocabulary
Complex medical jargon likely plays a role in causing this phenomenon. Technical terms and abbreviations specific to medicine can give the impression of sloppy writing even though they constitute a form of coded language, essential for rapid communication between specialists.
The Influence of digital technology on handwritten practice
In an increasingly digital world, handwriting seems to become a secondary skill, relegated to the background. This shift towards digital favors the atrophy of calligraphy skills, impacting not only doctors but also the general population.
The time factor
Doctors are often subject to drastic time constraints. They must juggle a multitude of tasks efficiently. Whether it is carrying out diagnoses, consulting patients, writing reports or following continuing education, time pressure does not spare the quality of the writing.
Practical and adaptive considerations
Pragmatic adaptations manifest themselves in the use of writing among doctors. To avoid errors in the delivery of treatments, some choose to be concise at the expense of readability. In doing so, they limit the risk of misunderstanding due to superfluous details.
The loss of calligraphy in the technological age
Over time, handwriting has lost its importance. In a context where typing is king, the regular practice of writing by hand has faded, leading to a general deterioration in the quality of writing among many people, doctors included.
The Intimacy of the Diagnosis
There is also an aspect of privacy and data protection in diagnosis and treatment. Handwriting that is difficult to read by the uninitiated can sometimes serve as a barrier, preventing sensitive information from being easily interpreted by prying eyes.
Reconsider the approach to writing in the medical environment
The need for reform is being felt: more and more medical institutions are encouraging the use of electronic records to overcome the problem of illegible handwriting. This improves the clarity of information, thereby optimizing patient safety and facilitating interprofessional cooperation.
It is essential to emphasize that, despite these numerous reasons explaining the phenomenon, awareness of the problem gradually leads to improvements in the daily practice of doctors. Continuing training, personalized to each practitioner, can serve as a lever to rehabilitate the readability of handwriting.
There is no doubt that awareness and the evolution of professional practices will contribute to resolving this problem which, although it seems anecdotal, has a real impact on the patient care pathway.
