Taber’s Medical Dictionary and Stedman’s Medical Dictionary

Dictionary and Stedman’s Medical Dictionary are reputable sources in the medical and healthcare field. Definitions of medical terms, abbreviations and acronyms can be obtained from both dictionaries. Taber’s Medical Dictionary was first published in 1940 by Clarence Wilbur Taber. It’s in its 24^th edition, published by F.A. Davis company in 2022 (Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, 2019). Stedman’s Medical Dictionary, on the other hand, was first published in 1911 and is in its 28^th edition, published in 2021 (Stedman’s Medical Dictionary, 2019). While the two dictionaries are helpful in healthcare, they have different features and characteristics.

Stedman’s Medical Dictionary, in its 28^th edition, provides detailed information focusing on clinical relevance. It is known for its extensive coverage of medical terminologies, including anatomy, physiology and pharmacology terms. The dictionary includes over 110,000 medical, pharmaceutical, and bioscience terms, with over 60,000 audio pronunciations and video clips (Stedman’s Medical Dictionary, 2019). Another outstanding feature is the built-in spell checker that facilitates fast and easy editing and reviewing, saving valuable time. Precision-cut thumb tabs are also available to facilitate the easy search of terms. Illustrations and tables are also included to provide clarification on complex medical concepts.

Furthermore, the Stedman’s Medical Dictionary suits students, residents and patients facing staff in medical and adjacent fields. This three-month subscription-based database helps new clinicians learn and understand the proper use of key medical terminology. Suffixes, prefixes and combining forms are highlighted with an icon to allow the user to learn the terms. For Gross anatomy and neuroanatomy, terminologia Anatomica has been provided as endorsed by the Federative Committee on Anatomical Terminology (Stedman’s Medical Dictionary, 2019). Additionally, cross-references are highlighted in blue to refer the user to the desired synonym directly. User customization also optimizes comprehension and usage as the dictionary is tailored to the specific needs of users. Various institutions have thus trusted Stedman’s dictionary as the go-to resource for medical terminology. 24/7 support is also available in more than twenty different languages.

Taber’s Medical Dictionary, on the other hand, consists of over 1,200 images accompanied by short definitions and audio pronunciations. An icon indicates the corresponding pictures, animations and videos. Pronunciations for about 32,000 terms are also provided alongside bonus appendices. (Taber’s ). Unlike Stedman’s dictionary, Taber’s offers free one-year access to its online content. Taber’s 24^th edition has updated the extensive vocabulary to meet the ongoing needs of its users, reflecting the many changes in healthcare technology, clinical practice and patient care. Taber’s dictionary also prefers American rather than British spellings (Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, 2019). The names of those who first discovered, popularized or described a concept, syndrome, anatomical structure or microorganism are included in the main entries with brief bibliographical information in brackets.

Furthermore, most main entries are spelt phonetically, and etymologies are provided for most main entries in brackets after the pronunciation. The standard entry abbreviations are listed alphabetically with the definition (Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, 2019). The dictionary also provides detailed, comprehensive information for entries that require additional coverage owing to their importance and complexity. Over eight hundred patient care sections are also invaluable to healthcare professionals, providing information on patient teaching points and wellness evaluation. The current edition of Taber’s also includes over one hundred and fifty color-screened tables. Caution and safety statements are also available to draw specific information that has health and safety implications for patients and healthcare professionals. Synonyms are listed at the end of each entry and the end of the first paragraph for encyclopedic entries. The appendix for Nursing diagnoses is a unique feature of this medical dictionary (Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, 2019). The dictionary provides nursing diagnoses for about three hundred diseases, which are cross-references from the dictionary’s body.

In comparing the two dictionaries in the coverage of hypertension, Taber’s dictionary defines hypertension as a condition in which the blood pressure is above 140 mmHg systolic and 90 mmHg diastolic on three separate occasions (Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, 2019. Further description of hypertension, including its incidence, causes, signs, symptoms, treatment, and classification of blood pressure, is included in the dictionary. On the other hand, Stedman’s dictionary defines hypertension as persistent high arterial blood pressure. It provides a more detailed discussion of the disease’s pathophysiology, complications and management strategies (Stedman’s Medical Dictionary, 2019). However, it does not outline the blood pressure range for the various stages of hypertension, as highlighted in Taber’s dictionary. Stedman’s definition of hypertension is too detailed and cannot be easily comprehended by novice medical students or individuals with minimal knowledge of anatomy and physiology.

Choosing between Taber’s and Stedman’s medical dictionaries entirely depends on the individual’s needs. For instance, Taber’s medical dictionary can be preferred for quick reference and easy understanding. However, Stedman’s Medical Dictionary can be an excellent choice for someone seeking in-depth exploration and comprehensive coverage. Taber’s Medical Dictionary offers free one-year access to its content, increasing its popularity among most individuals. Content in Stedman’s dictionary is restricted to subscribers only.

For my didactic (NIHI) course, I would prefer Stedman’s Medical Dictionary for several reasons, first because of its authority and reputation. Stedman’s dictionary has existed for over a century and is recognized as a reputable source in the medical field by healthcare professionals, educators and students. A comprehensive collection of medical terms, including specialized terminologies for various medical specialities, also ensures that students and users can find definitions for a wide range of terms. Clarity and precision of definitions are also significant features in Stedman’s. Concise explanations of medical terms make it easier for students to understand and remember. Compared to Taber’s dictionary, Stedman’s has more definitions, pronunciation, and images, among other illustrations, for easy understanding.

Additionally, Stedman’s dictionary undergoes regular updates of its content, thereby reflecting changes and advancements in the field of medicine. This ensures that its users have access to the latest terminology and information. Features in Stedman’s are also customized to meet specific user needs, making it user-friendly. These features include cross-referencing and pronunciation guides that enable students to navigate and comprehend complex medical terminologies (Stedman’s Medical Dictionary, 2019). Therefore, Stedman’s is a good choice for a didactic course that requires a strong foundation in medical terminology.

In summary, Stedman’s and Taber’s medical dictionaries are both reputable sources for medical terminologies and definitions. Stedman’s dictionary was published in 1911 and is in its 28^th edition, while Taber’s Medical Dictionary was published in 1940 and is in its 24^th edition. The latest editions for both dictionaries are within the past five years, indicating that the content aligns with the recent advances. The two dictionaries have similar features, such as illustrations, images, pronunciation, and cross-referencing. However, there are some unique features in each dictionary. Stedman’s dictionary provides comprehensive and detailed information compared to Taber’s. For a didactic course (NIHI), I would prefer Stedman’s dictionary due to its latest content, comprehensiveness, clarity and precision.

References

Stedman’s Medical Dictionary: Stedman’s: 9780781733908: Amazon.com: Books. (2019). Amazon.com. https://www.amazon.com/Stedmans-Medical-Dictionary/dp/0781733901 ‌

Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary (Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary (Thumb Index Version)): Venes: 9780803659049: Amazon.com: Books. (2019). Amazon.com. https://www.amazon.com/Tabers-Cyclopedic-Medical-Dictionary-Version/dp/0803659040