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Introduction

What are the consequences of medical embarrassment? Beth and Neil discuss this issue and teach you some new vocabulary.

This week's question

According to the UK’s Nursing Times newspaper, what percentage of people surveyed said they had delayed visiting their doctor out of embarrassment, and then later been diagnosed with a health condition? Was it:

a) 21% ?
b) 41% ? or,
c) 61% ?

Listen to the programme to hear the answer.

Vocabulary

delay
put off to a later time; postpone

diagnose
identify a disease or medical problem by recognising the symptoms and examining the patient

suffer in silence
endure or struggle with painful feelings or trauma without asking anyone for help

put (someone) at ease
make someone feel calm and relaxed

confidential
kept private and secret; information which is not shared with anyone

non-verbal cues
communication using means such as the expression on your face, hand gestures, or tone of voice to show how you feel about something, rather than using words

TRANSCRIPT

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript.

Neil
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil.

Beth
And I'm Beth.

Neil
Lots of things can make us feel embarrassed – that self-conscious, uncomfortable feeling when your face blushes red and you wish you could just disappear.

Beth
Have you had any embarrassing moments, Neil?

Neil
Yes, many. Once I met my parents in a car park and I saw them arriving in their car and I waved my hands around in a very silly way. But unfortunately, I soon discovered that it wasn't my parents. It was another couple.

Beth
Oh no, that's really embarrassing. I remember answering the phone, I thought it was my best friend and I said "hello" in a very silly voice, and then they asked to speak to my dad, and it wasn't my friend.

Neil
What was the voice?

Beth
Hello?

Neil
Oh dear. But embarrassment is more than just shyness and blushing. When it comes to our health, there's no end of things to be embarrassed about.

Beth
Yes, and some people feel so embarrassed that they don’t go to see a doctor when they should, sometimes with serious consequences.

Neil
In this programme, we'll be discussing the issue of medical embarrassment, and as usual, we'll be learning some useful new words and phrases.

Beth
So, I have a question. Neil, according to the UK's Nursing Times newspaper, what percentage of people surveyed said they had delayed visiting their doctor out of embarrassment, and then later been diagnosed with a health condition? Was it:

a)    21% ?
b)    41% ? or,
c)    61% ?

Neil
So I think it's probably a lot. So c) 61%.

Beth
OK. We will find out if that's correct at the end of the programme.

As humans we get embarrassed if we feel different from others, especially if the difference is physical. But how does feeling embarrassed about a medical condition impact our relationship with the doctor? Here's Dr Vanessa Apea, consultant in sexual health at Barts Hospital in London, explaining more to BBC Radio 4 programme, Inside Health: 

Dr Vanessa Apea
So they'll delay accessing the clinic, and also seeking treatment, and so then you'll often see people that could have been diagnosed with what's happening much earlier, and could have had earlier intervention, but it's delayed quite significantly. And so I then feel that we see a lot of people kind of suffering in silence really.

Neil
Many people delay going to the doctor – they postpone going or put it off until a later time. As a result, their problem isn’t diagnosed. To diagnose means to identify a disease or health problem through medical examination.

Beth
For some, feelings of embarrassment are so strong they prefer to suffer in silence – to struggle with pain without seeking help - rather than visit the doctor. But fortunately, there are things you can do to help. Writing your problem down, going with a friend, and visiting a doctor you trust are some ideas Dr Apea recommends.

Neil
There are ways that doctors can help as well, as Dr Vanessa Apea explains here to James Gallagher, presenter of BBC Radio 4 programme, Inside Health:

James Gallagher
Can you tell us what techniques you use to put people at ease?

Dr Vanessa Apea
I bring transparency to the conversation, and own it, and say that I'm going to be asking you some quite personal questions, and there may be also intimate examination… I want to assure you that this is confidential, that this is a safe, non-judgmental space… So really, I often name the words to create that space as well. Also in my manner, I would hope, and in my non-verbal cues.

Beth
James asks what doctors can do to put people at ease – to make them feel calm and relaxed - and Dr Apea describes her ideal conversation: it’s a safe space, it’s non-judgmental and what is said is confidential, kept private and not shared with anyone.

Neil
As well as discussing embarrassing problems sensitively, Dr Apea also uses non-verbal cues - the expression on her face, her hand movements, and the tone of her voice, rather than words, to communicate and relax the patient. Embarrassment is normal, and with support hopefully more of us will feel safe to visit the doctor despite it. OK, Beth, isn't it time to reveal the answer to your question?

Beth
It is. I asked you: What percentage of people said they had delayed visiting the doctor because they were embarrassed, but then had later been diagnosed with a health condition? Do you remember what you said, Neil?

Neil
Yes, I think I said c) 61%.

Beth
I'm afraid that is not the correct answer! It was, in fact a) 21% or just over a fifth. OK, let’s recap the new vocabulary we've used, starting with delay, to postpone or put off until a later time.

Neil
To diagnose a disease or medical condition means to identify it by recognising the symptoms and examining the patient.

Beth
If you suffer in silence, you endure and struggle with painful feelings without asking someone for help.

Neil
The phrasal verb put someone at ease means to make someone feel calm and relaxed.

Beth
The adjective confidential means kept private and secret and describes information which is not shared with anyone else.

Neil
And finally, non-verbal cues are types of communication using facial expressions, hand gestures or tone of voice, rather than speech, to show your feelings. Once again, our six minutes are up, but why not built your vocabulary and listening skills even more with the quiz and worksheet related to this programme? They’re both available now on our website, bbclearningenglish.com. See you there!

Beth
Bye!