Health Commun.  2021 Dec;16(2):125-133. /10.15715/kjhcom.2021.16.2.125.

A study on pain and suffering for effective communication by health care provider and non-medical practitioner

• Shin SW

• KMID: 2526425
• DOI: http://doi.org//10.15715/kjhcom.2021.16.2.125

Abstract

Background
There is a Korean expression for ‘painful’ such as suffering and pain. The Purpose of this study was to define two Korean concepts: “Go-tong(suffering)” and “Tong-jeung(pain)”.
Methods
First of all, it is necessary to organize the considerations on the whole-person in the humanities. Then, the two commonly used terms, “Go-tong” and “Tong-jeung”, were humanistically and contextually. Furthermore, a distinction between the two concepts was attempted for improved communication by health care provider and non-medical practitioner.
Conclusion
There is an intersecting element between Go-tong and Tong-jeung. Both of them also their own conceptually distinctive features. The term, Go-tong, focuses on causing damage and impairing physical discomfort, whereas Tong-jeung focuses more on damage to the integrity of the soul or mind. Through the way of using these two terms, i.e., these two conceptions, more improved communication can be achieved between health care provider and non-medical practitioner.

Keyword

pain; suffering; person; proof of concept study