Introduction
The health and wellness assessment of patients is a complex process that involves evaluating one’s overall health and well-being. During such assessments, it is crucial to reflect on the factors affecting patients’ health and well-being, the risks they are exposed to, and strategies to facilitate better health outcomes. Consequently, in the future, considering changes in an individual’s condition, a medical specialist determines the adequacy of the focus, volume, and quality of medical care. This paper examines the case of patients with chronic confusion, the social and cultural risk factors that are relevant to them, and potential behavior change techniques.
Social and Cultural Factors
It is no secret that various factors determine one’s health and well-being. Social factors in healthcare are determinants of health that stem from how people relate with each other in society (World Health Organization, 2019). Level of education, employment, income, access to water, food, housing, social inclusion, and discrimination determine individuals’ health and access to healthcare (World Health Organization, 2019). Thus, low income can prevent people from seeking medical care and lead to the progression of their condition and overall deterioration of their health.
Cultural factors concern the values and ideals of specific cultural groups and communities. Culture forms people’s beliefs about health, disease, death, and appropriate health behaviors, including treatments (Chelogoi et al., 2020).
In the client assessment, both social and cultural factors were considered. Specifically, the patient’s living conditions were examined, and during small talk, the patient was asked about their education, jobs, and experience with healthcare to better assess possible social factors affecting health. In addition, the culture and religious beliefs of the client were addressed based on the conversation with them and the information provided by the assisted living facility.
Behavior Change Techniques
Behavior change is required, considering the patient’s chronic confusion, short attention span, and inability to perform day-to-day tasks. Behavior modification through several techniques is a systematic procedure that aims to alter undesirable actions (Carey et al., 2019). A healthcare professional should discuss the current status of ailments, counsel, and provide ongoing support (Nguyen & Chen, 2020).
Firstly, the prompts/cues technique is the most appropriate for the patient. According to Shoesmith et al. (2021), this method introduces environmental or social stimuli to prompt or cue a person’s behavior. It should be remembered that to ensure efficiency, such cues are to be given at the time or place a particular behavior is to be encouraged or discouraged.
Secondly, concerning the patient’s case, a medic should pay attention to the practical social support/encouragement technique. This strategy helps in the performance of desired behaviors while reducing exposure to cues of behavior. The method focuses on removing triggers of unwanted behavior from the patient’s immediate environment (Shoesmith et al., 2021). As a rule, such practical support will help the patient to cope with everyday tasks faster and easier and minimize the manifestation of daily stressors.
Thirdly, the persuasive communication technique will be effective, reducing anxiety and providing safety for the patient. In this case, it is necessary to convince the patient to follow simple recommendations during treatment and reinforce their motivation, gradually orienting the person to the environment, staff, and specific activities. This patient should have enough time to discuss their illness’s nuances and make confident decisions. Depending on the behaviors to be nurtured or prevented, the described behavior change techniques can be utilized in the case at issue.
Risk Factors
Chronic confusion and related memory issues are associated with several risk factors. In healthcare, risk factors are behaviors or circumstances that increase the probability of developing a disease (National Cancer Institute, 2022). Certain risk factors can be adjusted, while interventions cannot impact others. Thus, non-modifiable risk factors for chronic confusion include age and family history (Curran, 2022).
Due to a decrease in normal cognitive abilities with the onset of old age, patients are more susceptible to experiencing chronic confusion symptoms and deteriorating health if other factors are not addressed (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2022). It is known that the patient sometimes uses tobacco, and a medic should pay attention to this moment since smoking reduces cognitive functions (Nguyen & Chen, 2020).
Another risk factor is smoking, which, in most cases, increases the risk of developing dementia and blood vessel diseases. Focusing on modifiable risks such as diet, exercise, alcohol intake, nutritional deficiencies, and sleep disruptions can improve the patient’s quality of life. Focusing on sleep disturbances is recommended, as sleep deprivation can substantially aggravate the condition.
The patient is advised to follow a regular sleep schedule with provisions made to ensure good sleep quality. For example, the client’s daily schedule in the living facility can be altered to remove exposure to artificial blue light before sleep, and melatonin supplements can be prescribed (Mawer, 2023). These provisions can substantially improve the patient’s quality of life and alleviate their symptoms.
Conclusion
Summarizing the above, one should note that various factors, social and cultural circumstances, and changeable and non-modifiable risks influence health and well-being. For the patient suffering from chronic confusion and associated memory lapses, the primary risk factor to be addressed is sleep disturbances. Furthermore, the prompts/cues behavior change techniques should be implemented to facilitate the necessary behavior change, allowing the patient to function better daily.
References
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Chelogoi, D. N., Jonyo, F., & Amadi, H. (2020). The influence of socio-cultural factors in access to healthcare in Kenya: A case of Nairobi County, Kenya. Journal of Social and Political Sciences, 3(3), 328–347. Web.
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