Healthcare providers must explain medical information to patients in a way that patients can understand. Provider use of analogies is one strategy that may help patients better understand medical information. The present study, guided by a memorable message framework, investigated whether participants remembered any analogies used by their healthcare providers, and included a content analysis of the function the analogies served, the types of analogies participants remembered, and the body systems associated with the health issues that were described. Almost one-quarter of participants recalled an analogy used by a provider. The most frequently recalled analogies functioned to describe health conditions or phenomena, followed by elements of the body, and treatments or something external to the body. Analogies were most frequently used to describe health issues associated with the cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system, digestive system, dental, eye, or skin issues, or the nervous system. The analogies were categorized as mechanical, a feeling or experience, random object, structure, food, nature, war/battle, or medical/body. Provider analogies may be a type of memorable message for some patients. Providers could consider using suitable analogies to explain health issues when communicating with patients, and be trained in effective use of analogies.

医疗保健提供者必须以患者能够理解的方式向患者解释医疗信息。提供者使用类比是一种可以帮助患者更好地理解医疗信息的策略。本研究以令人难忘的信息框架为指导，调查参与者是否记得他们的医疗保健提供者使用的任何类比，并包括对类比所服务的功能、参与者记住的类比类型以及与健康相关的身体系统的内容分析。所描述的问题。几乎四分之一的参与者回忆起供应商使用的类比。最常被回忆的类比用于描述健康状况或现象，其次是身体的元素，以及治疗或身体外部的东西。类比最常用于描述与心血管系统、肌肉骨骼系统、消化系统、牙齿、眼睛或皮肤问题或神经系统相关的健康问题。这些类比分为机械、感觉或体验、随机物体、结构、食物、自然、战争/战斗或医疗/身体。对于某些患者来说，提供者类比可能是一种令人难忘的信息。提供者在与患者交流时可以考虑使用适当的类比来解释健康问题，并接受有效使用类比的培训。对于某些患者来说，提供者类比可能是一种令人难忘的信息。提供者在与患者交流时可以考虑使用适当的类比来解释健康问题，并接受有效使用类比的培训。对于某些患者来说，提供者类比可能是一种令人难忘的信息。提供者在与患者交流时可以考虑使用适当的类比来解释健康问题，并接受有效使用类比的培训。