Hospitalized Patients Face Stigmatizing Language in Their Health Records

Background: Societal stigma has long stood as an obstacle for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) accessing health care. As patients are able to access their electronic health records (EHRs), societal stigma that impacts the language used by providers may further dissuade patients from continuing to seek care for this highly deadly and morbid but treatable condition. Objective: To explore providers’ use of stigmatizing and affirming language within the EHR for hospitalized patients with OUD. Design: Qualitative study. Participants/Methods: The authors reviewed admission and discharge documentation for patients with OUD admitted at Duke University Hospital to identify instances of stigmatizing and affirming language. Patients were admitted between July 2019 and February 2022 and received consultation from the hospital’s OUD consult service. The authors purposively sampled patients with hospital stays ≥28 days and patients with high level of medical complexity, socia more...