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How does stigma affect mental health essay
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A medical consultation is not just a conversation between two people, the clinical practice and medical interview are an essential component of the patients’ illness and healing process (Finkler, 1991). Societal norms have led us to expect a certain level of experience during a clinical encounter, leaving patients unsatisfied if the health professional does not meet the desired expectations (Roter and Hall, 2006). This essay will focus on a negative experience that I had with a health professional when using the NHS 111 service after suffering a reaction to antibiotics prescribed for a Kidney infection. It will focus on the interactions by phone, exploring why it was a negative experience and how power relations can help us understand why. …show more content…
Initially, I spoke to an advisor, whilst at home, who asked a set of automated questions to assess my symptoms and decide the best course of action. Although this was an uncomfortable process, as it was something I had not experienced before, the advisor was patient and understanding (Finkler, 1991). The language used by the advisor was easy to understand from a non-medical perspective and she took her time to explain the information covered. This improved my confidence in the process, but also made me feel as though I was taken seriously and would receive the correct advice. In contrast, when I spoke to the Doctor over the phone there was a noticeable change in terminology and the general flow of conversation. The doctor rushed through the conversation using medical terminology and offered no explanation for his decision. During a medical interaction, it is important for the patient to be confident that the professional is listening and taking their issues seriously as in order for health care to be effective the patient needs to have confidence in the health professional (Staum and Larsen,
In her personal essay, Dr. Grant writes that she learned that most cases involving her patients should not be only handled from a doctor’s point of view but also from personal experience that can help her relate to each patient regardless of their background; Dr. Grant was taught this lesson when she came face to face with a unique patient. Throughout her essay, Dr. Grant writes about how she came to contact with a patient she had nicknamed Mr. G. According to Dr. Grant, “Mr. G is the personification of the irate, belligerent patient that you always dread dealing with because he is usually implacable” (181). It is evident that Dr. Grant lets her position as a doctor greatly impact her judgement placed on her patients, this is supported as she nicknamed the current patient Mr.G . To deal with Mr. G, Dr. Grant resorts to using all the skills she
In the healthcare system many times patients are just patients and appointments are just appointments. The outlook on the patients and appointments all depends on the area of practice and the health professional themselves. Working in the emergency department, the nurses and doctors there typically do not see the same patient more than once and if they do the chance of them remembering them is slim to none just for the simple fact of the pace of the department. When it comes down to Physicians in the hospital setting, the care is not just quick and done. Great patient to healthcare professional relationships are formed and for some it may feel as if they are taking a “journey”(209) with their patients as they receive their medical care. This essay will be based off the book Medicine in Translation: Journeys with My Patients by Danielle Ofri, in which Ofri herself gives us the stories of the journeys she went on with several of her patients. Patients are more than just an appointment to some people, and when it comes to Ofri she tends to treat her patients as if they are her own family.
Communication is cited as a contributing factor in 70% of healthcare mistakes, leading to many initiatives across the healthcare settings to improve the way healthcare professionals communicate. (Kohn, 2000.)
Patients deserve the full attention of their doctor. (Wilkinson) One of the things that is distracting health care professionals from paying attention to their patients is technology. Physicians can get so caught up with filling out forms and answering calls that they aren’t giving enough time to their patient. (Britt) A harmless solution to this problem is just asking the person to wait a few minutes, so the doctor can finish up what they’re doing and then be able to devote their full attention to the patient. There needs to be a balance between giving someone very little time and wasting too much time on one person. That’s why doctors not only need to focus but also remain in control. Often patients will ramble on about their problem even after the doctor has figured out what’s wrong. For a case like that, every doctor should have something prepared to say in order to go treat other patients.
Chew –Graham CA, May CR, Roland MO. Harmful consequences of elevating the doctor patient relationship to be a primary goal of the general practice consultation. Fam Pract. 2004: 21 (3):229-231.
Truth in medicine is a big discussion among many medical professionals about how doctors handle the truth. Truth to a patient can be presented in many ways and different doctors have different ways of handling it. Many often believe that patient’s being fully aware of their health; such as a bad diagnosis, could lead to depression compared to not knowing the diagnosis. In today’s society doctor’s are expected to deliver patient’s the whole truth in order for patients to actively make their own health decisions. Shelly K. Schwartz discusses the truth in her essay, Is It Ever Ok to Lie to Patients?. Schwartz argument is that patients should be told the truth about their health and presented and addressed in a way most comfortable to the patient.
“Physicians and other health care professionals all agree on the importance of effective communication among the members of a health care team. However, there are many challenges associated with effective interprofessional (between physicians and other health care providers) communication, and these difficulties sometimes lead to unfavourable patient outcomes” (Canadian Medical Protection Association, 2011 p. 11).
During the “Who’s who”, we were briefed about a Mrs X, who had sustained serious burns and scaring to her face, arms and hands as a result of an accident with cooking oil. The “Who” checklist, is carried out before every patient list, as per Local Policy (2012). All theatre staff are introduced and the surgeon briefly discusses each case and make known his requirements. (Mrs X, would require a skin graft to her shoulder). Everybody is given the opportunity to voice any concerns. Mitchell (2005) draws attention to how essential, effective communication is, to the quality and efficiency of patient care within the NHS. Also, various authors, including Berry (2007) and Bury (2005) explain how communication skills are used by practitioners to: gather information, reassure,...
Understanding that all patients needed to be treated justly and given the opportunity to make decisions in their care is important. Not causing harm and preventing them from harm is also the duty of health care workers. These ethical principles are essential to keep in mind with interdisciplinary communication. Ineffective communication has been associated with medical errors, patient harm, and increase length of stay. Failure to communicate properly has been associated with 79% of sentinel events (Dingley, Daugherty, Derieg & Persing, 2008). Good communication has been shown to improve patient satisfaction, increase in patient safety, as well as a decrease in health care costs (Paget et al.,
The purpose of this essay is to reflect and critically study an incident from a clinical setting whilst using a model of reflection. This will allow me to analyse and make sense of the incident and draw conclusions relating to personal learning outcomes. The significance of critical analysis and critical incidents will briefly be discussed followed by the process of reflection using the chosen model. The incident will then be described and analysed and the people involved introduced. (The names of the people involved have been changed to protect their privacy) and then I will examine issues raised in light of the recent literature relating to the incident. My essay will include a discussion of communication, interpersonal skills used in the incident, and finally evidence based practice. I will conclude with explaining what I have learned from the experience and how it will change my future actions.
Medicine as a Form of Social Control This critique will examine the view that medicine is a form of social control. There are many theorists that have different opinions on this view. This critique will discuss each one and their different views. We live in a society where there is a complex division of labour and where enormous varieties of specialist healing roles are recognised.
Communication plays a vital role in all areas of healthcare, yet its importance is often overlooked. Whether it is a doctor talking to patients about treatment options, or strangers comforting one another in a waiting room, communication is happening everywhere and almost always, we underestimate how important it is and how it truly affects our medical experience. In the movie The Doctor, this is exactly what happens, causing a whirlwind effect of emotions and learning.
The first part of the history-taking process is creating an appropriate environment. Ideally, the interview takes place in an area that is safe, accessible, and free from distractions and interruptions. During this initial process, the interviewer introduces themselves and states their purpose and obtains consent to proceed with the health history interview. Additionally, the initial part of the interview is the time to establish the patient’s identity, age, and preferred way of being addressed. A relationship built on trust and respect for the patient’s privacy is necessary to developing a good rapport. It is important to remain unbiased and professional and furthermore, to treat the client with dignity. After introductions are made, the patient should be given time to tell their story in their own words. Active listening is a must during this interaction and involves both verba...
Despite the frequency of verbal interactions, miscommunication of patient information occurs that can lead to patient safety issues. . . . ‘Effective communication occurs when the expertise, skills, and unique perspectives of both nurses and physicians are integrated, resulting in an improvement in the quality of patient care’ (Lindeke & Sieckert, 200...
Street, Richard, MD. (1992). “Analyzing Communication in Medical Consultations: Do Behavioral Measures Correspond to Patient’s Perceptions?”. Medical Care, 30, 976 - 987