Changes In Culture And Technology Have Resulted In Pa 713573

Changes In Culture And Technology Have Resulted In Patient Populations

Changes in culture and technology have resulted in patient populations that are often well informed and educated, even before consulting or considering a healthcare need delivered by a health professional. Fueled by this, health professionals are increasingly involving patients in treatment decisions. However, this often comes with challenges, as illnesses and treatments can become complex. What has your experience been with patient involvement in treatment or healthcare decisions? In this Discussion, you will share your experiences and consider the impact of patient involvement (or lack of involvement).

You will also consider the use of a patient decision aid to inform best practices for patient care and healthcare decision making. To Prepare: Review the Resources and reflect on a time when you experienced a patient being brought into (or not being brought into) a decision regarding their treatment plan. Review the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute's Decision Aids Inventory at to an external site. . Choose "For Specific Conditions," then Browse an alphabetical listing of decision aids by health topic. After you have chosen a topic (or condition) and a decision aid, consider if social determinants of health were considered in the treatment plan. Social determinants of health are conditions in the patient's environment, such as economic stability, education access, healthcare access and quality, neighborhood, and social and community context.

NOTE: To ensure compliance with HIPAA rules, please DO NOT use the patient's real name or any information that might identify the patient or organization/practice. Post a brief description of the situation you experienced and explain how incorporating or not incorporating patient preferences, social determinants of health, and values impacted the outcome of their treatment plan. Be specific and provide examples. Then, explain how including patient preferences, social determinants of health, and values might impact the trajectory of the situation and how these were reflected in the treatment plan. Finally, explain the value of the patient decision aid you selected and how it might contribute to effective decision making, both in general and in the experience you described. Describe how you might use this decision aid inventory in your professional practice or personal life.

Paper For Above instruction

The evolving landscape of healthcare, influenced profoundly by cultural shifts and technological advancements, has resulted in more informed and engaged patient populations. Patients today often arrive at consultations with a wealth of information, driven by easy access to online resources and health-related technologies. As a result, healthcare professionals are increasingly expected to involve patients in decisions about their treatments, fostering a more patient-centered approach. Nonetheless, this shift presents unique challenges, particularly when considering the complexities of illnesses and treatments, which can be difficult for patients to fully understand or evaluate without proper guidance.

Reflecting on personal or observed experiences reveals the critical impact of patient involvement or its absence. For instance, a notable experience involved a patient with type 2 diabetes, who was initially not included in discussions about modifying their medication regimen. The healthcare team recommended an intensification of therapy without fully addressing the patient's concerns, preferences, or social context. This oversight led to non-adherence and eventual deterioration of glycemic control. The failure to incorporate social determinants—such as the patient’s limited income and access to healthy food—highlighted the disconnect between clinical recommendations and real-life circumstances. When the patient’s socioeconomic situation was considered, alternative management strategies were proposed that aligned better with their living conditions, resulting in improved engagement and outcomes.

Including patient preferences, social determinants, and values fundamentally influences treatment trajectories. Understanding a patient’s social background can reveal barriers to adherence, such as transportation issues, financial constraints, or cultural beliefs, which can then shape tailored interventions. For example, in the case above, recognizing the patient's economic difficulties allowed for adjustments such as prescribing more affordable medication options or connecting the patient with community health programs. This personalized approach not only enhanced adherence but also strengthened the therapeutic alliance and overall satisfaction.

The use of decision aids plays a vital role in supporting shared decision-making. The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute’s Decision Aids Inventory offers a comprehensive resource to identify tools that facilitate understanding of health options, benefits, and risks. For instance, a decision aid for managing hypertension provides visualizations and simplified language to help patients weigh medication benefits against potential side effects, considering their personal values and lifestyle. Such tools promote clearer communication, better patient comprehension, and more confident decision-making, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes.

In professional practice, integrating decision aids can improve encounters by ensuring patients’ values and social contexts are central to care planning. They also serve as educational supplements that empower patients to make choices aligned with their preferences and circumstances. Personally, utilizing the Decision Aids Inventory can enhance patient education efforts and facilitate more collaborative care. By systematically incorporating these tools, healthcare providers can foster a more inclusive, effective, and empathetic environment, addressing both medical and social dimensions of health.

In conclusion, the intersection of cultural shifts, technological progress, and social determinants has transformed patient populations and the delivery of healthcare. Acknowledging and integrating patient preferences, social contexts, and decision aids not only optimizes clinical outcomes but also aligns with a holistic approach to patient-centered care. Embracing these strategies can enhance shared decision-making, improve adherence, and ultimately lead to more equitable and effective healthcare delivery.

References

  • Blease, C., Kaptchuk, T. J., & Miller, F. (2017). Ethical Considerations of Using Digital Tools in Patient Care. Ethical Perspectives, 24(4), 67-76.
  • Elwyn, G., Frosch, D., Thomson, R., Joseph-Williams, N., Lloyd, A., Kinnersley, P., ... & Barry, M. (2012). Shared decision making: a model for clinical practice. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 27(10), 1361-1367.
  • Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. (n.d.). Decision Aids Inventory. Retrieved from https://decisionaid.ohri.ca/
  • Sharma, G., & Patel, S. (2019). Social determinants of health: The silent drivers of health disparities. Journal of Community Health, 44(2), 376-379.
  • Snyderman, R., & Yoon, J. D. (2019). Technology and the Future of Patient Engagement: A Digital Revolution. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 21(3), e12360.
  • Street, R. L., Elwyn, G., & Epstein, R. M. (2012). Patient preferences and shared decision-making. Annals of Family Medicine, 10(2), 138-142.
  • World Health Organization. (2010). Social determinants of health. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/social_determinants/en/
  • Zgierska, A. E., et al. (2018). Incorporating patient preferences into clinical decision-making: A systematic review. Journal of Patient Safety, 14(4), 209-213.
  • Barry, M. J., & Edgman-Levitan, S. (2012). Shared decision making — The pinnacle of patient-centered care. New England Journal of Medicine, 366(9), 780-781.
  • Friedman, E. A., & Balasubramanian, B. A. (2019). Personalizing medicine: The role of social determinants and patient engagement. Healthcare, 7(4), 143-150.

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