Patient Centred Care

Question 1

What is patient centred care ?

Answer 1

1. The focus in the consultation is the patient as a whole person with their particular values and need that are contextualized within their own family and community environment.
2. Sharing control of the consultation and decisions about management plan with the patient

Question 2

What are the 6 elements of the patient-centred care model ?

Answer 2

1. explores both the illness and the disease
2. understands the whole person
3. finds common ground
4. enhances the doctor patient relationship
5. incorporates prevention of ill-health and health promotion
6. being realistic about your own abilities and context

Question 3

How does one practise patient-centred care ?

Answer 3

1. by having good communication skills, especially listening skills.
2. by building a doctor-patient relationship characterized by empathy, genuine interest, respect,trust, honesty and support.
3. trying to understand the whole person and not just the disease
4. mutual decision making thoughout the consultation

Question 4

What is the difference between the disease and the illness ?

Answer 4

disease: medical explanation of the health problem
illness: personal experience of symptoms, feelings and discomfort

Question 5

How do we explore the disease ?

Answer 5

1. comprehensive and appropiate history
2. thorough and focused medical examination
3. necessary and relevant investigations
4. use skills of clinical reasoning to make a dx from the presenting symptoms and signs

Question 6

How do we explore the illness ?

Answer 6

1. pts ideas and thoughts of illness
2. pts fears and concerns about the illness
3. pts expectations of the consultation
4. effects of illness on pt’s functioning

Question 7

What is the difference between the doctor’s and the patient’s agenda ?

Answer 7

The doctor’s agenda involves identifying the problem and making a dx, while the pt’s agenda involves having their concerns and expectations about their illness addressed.

Question 8

What are the benefits of the patient-centred approach for the patient ?

Answer 8

1. Improved health outcomes
2. Higher levels of patient satisfaction
3. More use of preventative care
4. Increased engagement between doctor and patient
5. Increase in patient trust and patient satisfaction
6. Decrease in patient anxiety
7. Improved quality of life

Question 9

What are the benefits of the patient-centred approach for the doctor ?

Answer 9

1 More appropriate prescribing

2. Increased doctor satisfaction and more efficient practise
3. Fewer diagnostic tests and unnecessary referrals
4. Better use of time
5. Fewer complaints from patients

Question 10

What are the benefits of patient-centred approach for the healthcare system ?

Answer 10

1. Better adherence to treatment, recommendations and follow-up visits
2. Fewer hospitalizations
3. Shorter hospital stays