CommentaryAverting the proliferation of acronymophilia in dermatology: Effectively avoiding ADCOMSUBORDCOMPHIBSPAC
Section snippets
Methods
PubMed, Medline, and Ovid searches were performed using the following terms: acronym, memorization, efficient use, appropriate use, learning, memory, medicine, medical, length, and clinical. Studies were evaluated for scientific contribution and strength of the research preformed. Reports with acronyms in the title but that did not address the actual topic of acronyms were not reviewed. This review attempted to focus on studies in normal subjects with no known learning impairments or neurologic
Results
The search term “acronym” yielded 1041 articles using PubMed alone. In general, reports in which new acronyms are presented rarely provide an explanation as to why the acronym was chosen other then basing this decision on clinical descriptors. No reports were found in which the acronym was specifically chosen based on both clinical descriptor and with the use of evidence-based research on the ideal way to design an acronym. Furthermore, such acronyms are not always based on the first letter of
Discussion
The lure of using acronyms to learn and retain information is clear. Among many other benefits, it facilitates memorization and therefore allows for more efficient disease identification. In lay populations, acronyms are also frequently used to readily convey information. For example, the RACE acronym is used to teach the public about fire safety: remove all persons to safety, activate manual pull station, close doors, and extinguish the fire. However, on further evaluation of the lay world use
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2019, Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and VenereologyValue of eponyms in dermato-trichological nomenclature
2018, Skin Appendage DisordersNewer insights in teledermatology practice
2011, Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and LeprologyCollision tumors: CAMEL, METRO and other acronyms
2010, JDDG - Journal of the German Society of Dermatology
Funding sources: None.
Conflicts of interest: None declared.