Estimate how often US adults report disrespectful or judgmental language (DJL) in medical records, describe anticipated consequences, and assess factors associated with DJL reports and trust in clinical documentation.
Approach:
Design and sample: A nationally weighted, cross-sectional online survey of 500 US adults was conducted through YouGov from November 21 to December 4, 2025.
Measures: The survey assessed reported DJL in respondents’ or loved ones’ records (or during care for nonportal users), confidence that clinicians document accurately and respectfully, and anticipated effects on health, subsequent care, and willingness to return.
Analysis: Regression analyses examined DJL reports and diminished documentation trust in relation to demographic and clinical characteristics, including race and ethnicity.
Interpretation:
The provided context describes the study rationale, objectives, and methods but does not report survey results.
Limitations:
The supplied context does not include findings or the full description of the study’s limitations.
The survey used an online panel and a prespecified analytic sample of 500; weighting was intended to lessen sampling bias.
