Let's Talk About Using Acronyms

Posted by Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sueinmn, Feb 16 6:32pm

Hello members, some of us are accustomed to texting, and using a lot of "shortcut" abbreviations. I even find myself doing it on Connect from time to time, even though I try not to do it.

Please remember that every single day we have new visitors and members in our great MAC & Bronchiectasis group. Imagine a new visitor reading the following sentence:
"Hello and welcome to MC, I'm the VM for the MAC &BE group. Here you can learn about saline nebs, AC, NTM, MABC, SOB, whether to go to NJH, or if you need an ID doc. People share their experiences with the Big 3, PEPs, Smart Vests, Bololos and Life Straws."
Do you feel like you need a translator? Do you think a newcomer might feel as if they have dropped in on a private conversation?
Please, let's try to use the full word/term/title the first time in any post. Then it's usually OK to abbreviate with the acronym.

Feel free to flag me if I start doing this.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Feb 20 8:48am

In reply to @rashida "@sueinmn what is MAC?" + (show)

@rashida Mycobacteria Avium Complex (MAC) describes a related group of Mycobacteria Avium infections. Until perhaps 10 years ago, it was referred to as MAI (Mycobacteria Avium Intrcellulare) as that was the first on identified. As knowledge progresses there are many more. There are also Mycobacterium Abscessus (sometimes abbreviated MABC) M Gordonae, M bovine and others.
All of these fall into the class of Non-tubercular Mycobacteria(NTM) and are related to whar is known as TB (M tuberculosis)
Of the hundreds of Mycobacteria so far identified, only about a dozen or so are of concern in human infections.

Scott R L | @scottrl | Feb 20 10:41am

In reply to @sueinmn "@rashida Mycobacteria Avium Complex (MAC) describes a related group of Mycobacteria Avium infections. Until perhaps 10..." + (show)

@sueinmn OIC.

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Mar 4 2:56pm

@sueinmn
I often have a hard time searching the internet for acronyms. One helpful thing is to search for the acronym in a search engine and then add "medical abbreviation." For example, "MAC medical abbreviation." This will usually take me to the correct definition.

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Mar 4 5:29pm

In reply to @hopeful33250 "@sueinmn I often have a hard time searching the internet for acronyms. One helpful thing is..." + (show)

@hopeful33250 I agree z we can find these with a search. But should our members, especially new ones, have to do this to de sphere what we are talking about?

blm1007blm1007 | @blm1007blm1007 | Mar 5 6:19pm

In reply to @hopeful33250 "@sueinmn I often have a hard time searching the internet for acronyms. One helpful thing is..." + (show)

@hopeful33250 I think many of us do have the time and energy to search but some do not. Having experienced the need to and noticed others questions I realized we have to spell all out.
However, nice that we have the internet to search these things out.
Barbara

lenorj | @lenorj | Mar 6 7:47am

In reply to @blm1007blm1007 "@hopeful33250 I think many of us do have the time and energy to search but some..." + (show)

@blm1007blm1007 is it possible that we could create a post that listed most f the common acronyms? We could add as we find others?

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Mar 6 10:06am

In reply to @lenorj "@blm1007blm1007 is it possible that we could create a post that listed most f the common..." + (show)

@lenorj That was something I considered doing until I thought through the complexity of handling it going forward. And it wouldn't really help new member who already struggle to navigate Connect.
Until we can create a document to refer to, accessible with a simple tab at the top of each page in our group, this is not manageable. This involves assistance from the Mayo Tech Team and ongoing review by a Connect Moderator to ensure accuracy. It is "on the list" of future enhancements.

lenorj | @lenorj | Mar 6 11:44am

All good points. I have had trouble with the acronyms myself. I guess we have to does on wa h person doing their own home work. Thabks

Scott R L | @scottrl | Mar 6 12:46pm

As with any issue, there's a simple solution ... Getting people to follow it is the hard part.

I did a lot of corporate writing, and the rule was: When using any acronym, the first time it's used, define it. If you only use the term once, don't use the acronym.

Example:

"I have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Like many people with COPD, etc. To treat my T2D, etc. I knew someone who had acute obstructive pulmonary disease. That meant he couldn't breathe through the pillow someone held over his face."

The goal is to make writing not only clear but visually inviting.

There's a common acronym, "tl;dr" -- too long; didn't read. I see some posts and think, tma;dr -- too many acronyms; didn't read.

I had a stroke and have to type one-handed, which is slow and frustrating for a guy who used to type 80 words a minute. But if I can do that, people can define their acronyms.