Disseminating Results
As a Psych Nurse, I have seen a lot of cases concerning mental issues by a lot of patients. For instance, there was a time I received a patient who was distraught. She was on her medication for a long time, but there reached a point she felt she was getting better than she stopped her medication without doctor’s orders. The lady was brought into the facility with her family member, I had to educate them about the medication regime and not to stop any medication without seeing her doctor.
I believe that it is vital for the incorporation of patient preference in daily experiences especially when it comes to mental health. This is because of the various occurrences that might take place when patient preference is not incorporated, i.e., when they do not incorporate patient preference, then it means that they may end up doing some actions that will not be favorable either to them or to the people around them. When a patient preference is incorporated, then they will be advised accordingly, and even the necessary actions are taken when their condition may be deteriorating and is noted earlier (OHRI, 2019). As we all know, prevention is better than cure, particularly to this category of patients.
When a patient preference is incorporated in a medical situation, it usually means that the patient has full trust in the doctor and also that they are determined to ensure they are healthy. With the kind of patients I see at the psychiatric facility I work, patient preference would be very helpful, both to the patient, their family members and to the psychiatrist. To the patient, it means that he/she will be able to be diagnosed early and that they will be guaranteed of a healthier life in the near future. To the doctor, it means that their treatment plan was put in place earlier concerning the patient will be implemented prior. When this is done, the chance of the plan of care to treat the condition will be high. The treatment plan is usually made when the patient is diagnosed; in this case, there will be a lot of time for the plan to be implemented since it was previously anticipated. It means that the patient will be provided with the best care if the situation is serious and when it is minor it would not be that serious. To me patient care will be much easier.
Patient decision aids are a means of helping people make informed choices about healthcare that take into account their personal values and preferences. Decision aids are a part of a shared decision-making process, encouraging active participation by patients in healthcare decisions (The BMJ, 2013). The patient decision aid that I think is best is the treatment team meeting we do every morning which consists of the social worker, doctor, nurse, therapist, and patient; we all talk about what is working and what needs to be changed incorporating the patient to be involved in his or her care. On the decision about medication management patients have the right to discuss the medication that is working for them and the ones that are not working so that the provider can change medications if needed. This treatment team meeting has aided us in providing patient safety, health promotion and involving patients in their plan of care. These decision aid is very important to me and my patients it helps treat not only the diseases but the whole being. Hence I will ensure to incorporate this decision aid in my practice because it allows patients' values and preferences to be included and it creates a good relationship with my patients. Also, this will builds trust between me and my patient they will know I’m there to help treat their pain (NCBI, 2015).
References
The BMJ. (2013, July 23). An introduction to patient decision aids. Retrieved from https://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f4147
NCBI. (2015, March). Patient decision aids used in consultations involving medicines - Medicines Optimisation - NCBI Bookshelf. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK355917/
OHRI. (2019, October 15). Patient Decision Aids - Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. Retrieved from https://decisionaid.ohri.ca/