Patient of client? If in doubt, ask.

DO PEOPLE SEEKING HEALTH CARE prefer to be called “patients” or “clients”? To try and answer this question the author surveyed 101 people attending a back-pain clinic and found that most (74) preferred “patient.” Given the implicit assumptions inherent in the use of specific labels, the author advises clinicians to evaluate carefully the attitudinal implications of using a particular term and to ensure that preferences are respected.