The TouCAN Codebook: Detecting textual misunderstanding in doctor-patient communication with the philosophy of language tools.

Effective communication is widely recognized as a cornerstone of successful medical treatment, as extensively documented in prior research. The doctor-patient relationship relies on clear, accurate information exchange to ensure precise diagnoses, treatment adherence, and patient satisfaction. Yet m...

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Main Authors: Monica Consolandi, Mara Floris, Cristina Ganz, Noemi Paciscopi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0328072
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author Monica Consolandi
Mara Floris
Cristina Ganz
Noemi Paciscopi
author_facet Monica Consolandi
Mara Floris
Cristina Ganz
Noemi Paciscopi
author_sort Monica Consolandi
collection DOAJ
description Effective communication is widely recognized as a cornerstone of successful medical treatment, as extensively documented in prior research. The doctor-patient relationship relies on clear, accurate information exchange to ensure precise diagnoses, treatment adherence, and patient satisfaction. Yet misunderstandings can seriously undermine this process, creating barriers to optimal care and weakening the therapeutic alliance-a critical element of effective healthcare. Consequently, identifying, understanding, and addressing these misunderstandings is essential. This paper introduces a novel approach to detecting and analyzing such misunderstandings in clinical interactions by drawing on concepts from the philosophy of language. Specifically, we present the ToUCAN Codebook, a structured framework designed to systematically classify and examine instances of textual miscommunication in doctor-patient dialogues. By offering a clear methodology for identifying and preventing potential communication breakdowns, the ToUCAN Codebook contributes to improved healthcare outcomes and a deeper understanding of the dynamics that shape medical discourse.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1932-6203
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-80495f74b51441b8815979f2a9ef2e162025-08-20T03:39:18ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01208e032807210.1371/journal.pone.0328072The TouCAN Codebook: Detecting textual misunderstanding in doctor-patient communication with the philosophy of language tools.Monica ConsolandiMara FlorisCristina GanzNoemi PaciscopiEffective communication is widely recognized as a cornerstone of successful medical treatment, as extensively documented in prior research. The doctor-patient relationship relies on clear, accurate information exchange to ensure precise diagnoses, treatment adherence, and patient satisfaction. Yet misunderstandings can seriously undermine this process, creating barriers to optimal care and weakening the therapeutic alliance-a critical element of effective healthcare. Consequently, identifying, understanding, and addressing these misunderstandings is essential. This paper introduces a novel approach to detecting and analyzing such misunderstandings in clinical interactions by drawing on concepts from the philosophy of language. Specifically, we present the ToUCAN Codebook, a structured framework designed to systematically classify and examine instances of textual miscommunication in doctor-patient dialogues. By offering a clear methodology for identifying and preventing potential communication breakdowns, the ToUCAN Codebook contributes to improved healthcare outcomes and a deeper understanding of the dynamics that shape medical discourse.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0328072
spellingShingle Monica Consolandi
Mara Floris
Cristina Ganz
Noemi Paciscopi
The TouCAN Codebook: Detecting textual misunderstanding in doctor-patient communication with the philosophy of language tools.
PLoS ONE
title The TouCAN Codebook: Detecting textual misunderstanding in doctor-patient communication with the philosophy of language tools.
title_full The TouCAN Codebook: Detecting textual misunderstanding in doctor-patient communication with the philosophy of language tools.
title_fullStr The TouCAN Codebook: Detecting textual misunderstanding in doctor-patient communication with the philosophy of language tools.
title_full_unstemmed The TouCAN Codebook: Detecting textual misunderstanding in doctor-patient communication with the philosophy of language tools.
title_short The TouCAN Codebook: Detecting textual misunderstanding in doctor-patient communication with the philosophy of language tools.
title_sort toucan codebook detecting textual misunderstanding in doctor patient communication with the philosophy of language tools
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0328072
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