Health Pschology and Human Diversity Flashcards
What are examples of bad news?
- terminal illness
- disabling condition
- traumatic/sudden death
- infertility
- ante-natal testing
- intra-uterine death
What is bad news?
- any information that drastically alters a patients view of their future or both
- situations where there is either a feeling of no hope, a threat to a persons mental or physical well being, a risk of upsetting an established lifestyle or where a message is given which conveys to an individual fewer choices in his or her life
Why not bad news be always bad news?
- patient may feel relief at diagnosis
- cancer may feel that there burden has been lifted
- determination that the minds is bad is with the mind if the perceiver and may vary according to personal circumstance such as age, family obligations and single mum?
Why is it important that doctors tell their patients when it is bad news?
- to maintain trust
- to reduce uncertainty
- to prevent unrealistic expectations
- to promote open communication
- most pts wish to know their diagnosis and to be informed about their prognosis and treatment
- doctors find it easier to treat an care patients if they know their diagnosis
- lack of information can increase patient uncertainty, anxiety, distress and dissatisfaction
What are the implications for patients if bad news is not delivered well?
- doctor patient relationship
- emotional well being i.e. distress and depression
- adjustment to their ability to cope with the illness for patients and their relations
Why is it difficult to break bad news?
- fear of patients reaction
- desirer to protect patient
- fear of being blamed i.e. shooting of the messenger
- lack of confidence in ability to communicate
- sense of failure in the doctor
- lack of time
- reminds them of their own mortality and mortality of family and friends
What are blocking behaviours?
Are behaviours that doctors can use when giving bad news such as..
- tell patient distress is normal
- change the subject
- giving information/advice before concerns aired
- focus on a particular aspect
- asking leading/closed/multiple questions
What is the Spikes Model?
S = setting and listening skills P = patients perception I = invitation from patient K = knowledge E = empathy S = strategy and summary
Give a good example of S: setting and listening skills in the spikes model?
- break the news face to face not telephone/letter
- avoid given information to relatives first
- ensure privacy with no interruptions
- find out who the patients want present
- tissues
- introduce yourself and any colleagues (only a few!)
- listening mode: silence and repeption
Give a good example of P: patients perception in the spikes model?
What does the patient know already?
- before you tell ask?
- start consolation with general question i.e. what do you know so far?
Give a good example of I: invitation from the patients in the spikes model?
- don’t assume that the patients will want to know everything
- if patients declines any information at this time respect it
- allow for denial and offer future opportunity for further discussion such as written appointment further down the line
Give a good example of K: knowledge in the spikes model?
- give a warning shot
- incorporate key terms used by the patients
- lead patient to diagnosis: give small chunks of information at a time
- avoid jargon, align your language with the patient: use clear and simple explanations
Give a good example of E: empathy in the spikes model?
- empathetic response
- listen to the patients concerns as you might be able to reassure them
Give a good example of S: strategy and summary in the spikes model?
Summary: summarise main discussion points and check their understanding
Strategy: discuss strategies, agree on next step, be optimistic but avoid inappropriate premature response
Closure: signal closure, future availability, opportunity to ask questions, if still upset ask if they would like a member of staff to stay with them
Define sexual orientation
term used to describe what gender you are attracted to : lifelong or vary over a lifetime
Define sexual attraction
Includes feelings, behaviours and identity (may not all coincide)
Identity?
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, are terms of identity however most people prefer no labels or wish to define themselves
MSM?
men who have sex with men
WSW?
women who have sex with women
What is the gender binary model?
That there are two separate categories male and female which are clearly distinguished by anatomy so men should look and act masculine and women should look at act feminine
Gender identity?
Someones internal perception and their experience of their gender
Gender role/expression
The way the person lives in society and interacts wiht others
Transgender status
Umbrella term for those who gender identity and gender expression differ from their birth sex e.g. transexuals, transvestites, cross dressers, gender queer
transexual person?
Someone who feels a consistent and overwhelming desire to transition and fulfil their life as a member of the opposite sex
Examples of how stereotypes about LGBT patients can affect their healthcare? Assuming……
- a patients has an opposite sex partner or not
- a same sex partner is not next of kin
- a butch looking women doe snot need contraception
- a masculine looking man does not have anal sex
- a married man does not need an STI text
- a lesbian does not what children
Who can LGBT patients be discriminated by?
school, family, neighbours, if old other older people, hate crime, health care provision
So what can happen to LGBT patients?
- job loss and social isolation = norm
- rejection by family is common
- high risk of violence if fail to pass in public
- mental health: depression, self harm, suicidal
- gender reassignment is long, difficult to access and unsupported
How the discrimination of LGBT patients can lead to poor health?
- increased stress
- low self esteem
- isolation
- increased conflict
- sub culture
- distrust of authorities
- discriminatory healthcare
Give some examples of stereotypes for LGBT people
- gay men are effeminate, promiscuous and well groomed
- in lesbian relationships one person wears the trousers
- bi people are indecisive and greedy
Define homophobia
prejudices and discrimination against gay people
- giving patient poorer care
- ignoring or isolating LGBT colleague
- homophobic comments and jokes from other patients and staff
What is institutional homophobia?
is many ways in which government, business, religious institutions, and other institutions and organizations discriminate against LGBT people
- only having paternity care for male colleagues
- failure of organisation to tackle homophobia inside the work place
What are the specific health needs that are prevalent in the LGBT community?
- mental health: stress and seems worse in them
- Substance abuse: smoking, alcohol, recreational drugs
- cancer: HPV between women, MSM more likely to have anal cancer, HIV positive doubles risks
- sexually transmitted infections:
For MSM, HIV & syphilis more common amongst MSM but this depends on lifestyle and condom use
For WSW can still contract an STI even if have only slept with women in past 5 years
What do LGBT patients want?
- Validate the patients identity, more than being neutral
- confidentiality, don’t out them without their consent
- respect, their lifestyle and identity do not show inappropriate interest
- knowledge, don’t rely on patient for information, be able to distinguish between a patients problems and their identity
What are the ethical and legal requirements of doctors in providing good care for LGBT patients?
- be pro active to build trust
- don’t make assumptions
- language
- confidentiality
- reflect upon and think about own feelings
- challenge homophobia
GMC = do not let your views prejudice treatment, challenge colleagues behaviour
Tomorrows doctors: respect all patients, colleagues and others regardless of sexual orientation
The law: equality act 2010: illegal to discriminate on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, in provision of goods and services in education and workplace
Define sexual dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction is characterised by a disturbance in sexual desire and in the psychological changes that characterise the sexual response cycle and cause marked distress and interpersonal difficulty
Describe the sexual response cycle?
- Desire
- Arousal
- Orgasm
Give examples of how the male sexual response cycle can be affected: Desire, arousal, orgasm
D = lack or loss of sexual desire A = erectile disorder O = rapid ejaculation, inhibited organism Other = sexual aversion and lack of sexual enjoyment, dyspareunia/painful sex
Give examples of how the sexual response cycle can be disrupted in women: Desire, Arousal and Orgasm
D = lack or loss of sexual desire A = sexual arousal disorder O = organism dysfunction Other = sexual aversion/lack of sexual enjoyment, dyspareunia, vaginismus (goes into involuntary spasm)
Describe the possible problems in sexual dysfunction..
- occur irrespective of sexual orientation
- more than one problem can oc-exist
- are often present in both partners
- lifelong or acquired
- generalised/situational
- physical or psychological difficulties
- may present overtly or covertly i.e. reported negative investigations for pain or discharge, never being happy with an method of contraception
- reluctance to raise a sexual problem
Examples of precipating factors in sexual problems..
- physical
- life events
- pschological
- partner problems
Examples of predisposing factors in sexual problems..
- false beliefs/concepts
- physical vulnerability
- unrealistic expectations
- poor communication skills
- early sexual trauma
Examples of perpetuating factors self in sexual problems..
- lack of confidence
- spectating
- guilt and shame
Examples of perpetuating factors (partner) in sexual problems..
- breakdown communication
- pressure to perform
- criticism and hostility
- guilt and self blame
What are the main treatments of psychosexual therapy
- educative counselling: individual or couple
- modification of attitudes/beliefs
- facilitation of communication/assertiveness
- specific directions for sexual behaviour: foreplay, dilator therapy, stop start
Give specific examples of male psychosexual therapy
- oral: viagra, testosterone
- local therapy e.g. emula cream
- self injection therapy
- mechanical therapy e.g. pumps and rings
- surgery e.g. penile implant
Give specific examples of female psychosexual therapy
- testosterone e.g. if post menopausal
- lubricants
- oestrogen
- clitoral therapy device, EROS
- zestra gel
Points to consider when discussing sexual issues with patients
- empathy and reasurement
- embarrassment
- stigma
- privacy and confidentiality
- open and specific questions
- avoid labels and value judgements do not make assumptions!
- terminology
- religious and cultural issues
- interview partner
Structured clinical interview for sexual problems
- detailed description of the problem, its onset progression including behaviour, effective and cognitive functioning
- relationship with partner
- relevant past relationships
- medical history and drug use
- mental health history
- family and psychosexual history
- significant life events
- cultural aspect
- coping mechanism and support networks
Why terminology around sexual behaviour can be a problem in talking to patients and the implications of this for practise
- term sex maybe different things to different people
so can be difficult getting accurate information from patients (sexual history, discussing sexual behaviours) - use specific terms for sexual behaviour
- check patient understanding to make sure that they understand it in the same way that you do
The NATSAL survey what was reported?
survey done in 1990/1991, 1999/2000, 2010/2012
- increasing average number of heterosexual partners
- more people reporting anal and oral sex
- more people experiencing same sex relationships
- more acceptance of same sex relationships
- higher incidence of consistent condom use in the past 4 weeks
- more HIV tests and visit to STD clinics
Why is it difficult to get accurate information about sexual behaviour?
- embarrassment or reluctance to report their sexual behaviour to the interviewer
- may not be able to recall all their sexual encounters
- sampling problems, those who did not respond and those 75
What are the implications of diversity in sexual behaviour?
- problem about getting reliable data means we cannot say what is normal statically
- not such thing as normal sexual behaviour
- what maybe thought as normal sexual behaviour is actively quite common i.e. anal sex in heterosexual couples
- whats normal for 1 person may not be for another
- can reflect stereotypes and overlook diversity
- behaviour and norms about sexual behaviours change over time: culture, age group, sexual orientation and social context
Why sexual issues may not be raised in medical consultations from the healthcare professionals perspective?
- not their area of speciality so might not mention it
- may feel uncomfortable about talking about it to a patient
- may have not thought it was relevant to their consultation
- didn’t think it was there place to say
- were focusing on the patients other issues/problems
- might not have the knowledge to do so
- might not be time
Why sexual issues may not be raised in medical consultations from the patients perspective?
- don’t want to seem stupid in front of the doctor/ think doctor thinks that it will be obvious
- think might be judged if they thought it was a priority
- women might feel uncomfortable if the professional male or female does not feel open to talk about their sexual issues and vice versa for men
- might stereotype different specialties
Examples of how to facilitate discussion about sexual issues?
- ensure staff have had appropriate training and are confident in dealing with sexual issues even though it it not their area of speciality
- have regular assessment to show that staff are able to talk about sexual issues
- might provide leaflets with written information for the patient to take home
- make it clear that information/clinic are available for sexual issues
What are the three main patterns in dying?
Gradual death: slow decline in ability and health
Catastrophic death: through sudden and unexpected events
Premature death: in children and young adults though accident/illness
Diversity in patterns of dying…
- fewer people die at home
- medicalisation of death
- death rates are falling in England and Wales
- women on average live longer
- death rates higher in older age groups but people can still die at any age
- less wealthy on average experience poorer health and die sooner
- causes of death include CVS, cancer, respiratory, mental, behavioural, suicide, accidents, NS disorders, GI, GU
The five stages of grief model of adjusting to the idea of dying?
- Denial
- Anger: search for 2nd opinions/alternative treatments, blame someone
- Bargaining: appeal to higher powers to save them
- Acceptance: accept death, peace with friends and relatives
The positive aspects to denial?
- coping mechanism
- respect desire not to know
- written information can be given to be looked at by patient/their family
The negative aspects to denial?
Can be a barrier to good care as patients can refuse to discuss concerns or think about future
Symptoms that are often experienced following bereavement
Grief:
- set of psychological and physical reactions to bereavement
- a normal reaction to overwhelming loss
- a reaction in which normal functioning no longer holds
- common elements include anger, blame, guilt and depression
Describe the grieving process…
- disbelief and shock in early stages
- developing awareness
- resolution
Each person experiences stages differently
What is mourning?
- process of adapting to loss
- role of funeral rituals (mark passing of loved person, show grief, social support, celebrate lost person, marking their death and the future)
What is bereavement?
is associated with increased risk of illness and mortality particularly in older people who have lost their spouse.
- physical: sob, palpitations, fatigue, digestive symptoms and decreased immune function
- behavioural: insomnia, irritability, crying, social withdrawal
- emotional: depression, anxiety, guilt, anger
- cognitive: lack of concentration, memory loss, hopelessness, disturbance of identity, visual and auditory hallucinations
What are the risk factors for poor outcome of bereavement? (risk factors for chronic grief)
- prior bereavement
- mental health
- type of loss (young person, nature of death, caring status)
- lack of social support, stress fro others arises
What are the risk factors which lead to complications in the grief process? (risk factors for chronic grief)
- expression of grief discouraged
- ending of grief discouraged