Introduction
There is a need for personalized health care, especially for older patients, through education programs that make them self-aware and care for themselves. As such, physicians should spend quality time with patients to improve the health care results. The manner in which health education is offered is key to sustainable health practices. The physician should be responsive to the individual patient’s needs (Jung & Roh, 2020). Given that older members of society are vulnerable and susceptible to diseases, there is a need for enhanced health education through energetic and genuine engagement between the caregiver and the patient (Friedman, 2017). The paper discusses the influence patient education has on health care based on the interview of a person with diabetes, Mr. Riffat, a 75-year-old man, who got an education on self-care.
Did Patient Education Offer Instructions on Self-Care?
According to Mr. Riffat, self-care education informs his belief in the medical community that promotes physical activities and a good diet to reduce the health risks of diabetes. Compared to the period before he received an education, Mr. Riffat asserts that he did not have the proper knowledge of health practices to help him manage the condition; Mr. Riffat had personal behavior patterns that worsened it. Thanks to the teachings he obtained from his caregiver, Mr. Riffat says he is now aware of the best practices he needs to adopt to improve his health. For example, he says he is aware that eating less sugary food and doing more physical exercises are ways of improving one’s health (Paterick, et al., 2017). The confession from Riffat reveals the irrefutable and convincing facts that exercising has the benefits of improving clinical results in diabetes.
Did the Physician Advise the Patient on Diet and Exercise?
Based on the evidence adduced by Mr. Riffat, health practitioners must promote health education through continuous engagement to improve the patient’s literacy. Health literacy is one’s ability to look for health information, and interpret and understand the information to improve health. Low health literacy comes from a lack of understanding of physicians’ communication, leading to incomplete personal health management and irresponsibility to self-care (Friedman, 2017). Appropriate nursing practice requires physicians to be responsible for proactive patient interactions accessible to promote well-being and healthy practices (Paterick et al., 2017).
The responsibility of patients’ support for easy access to health interactions and improvement of health lies with their physicians. Therefore, the physician must determine how health literacy is improved. The improvement can include setting up time, open communication, factual health content, and proper mode of communicating the information to enhance sound health practices and decision-making (Paterick et al., 2017). In Mr.Riffat’s case, the physician behaved well and used open communication methodologies, which reduced the potential risks of a lack of health literacy (Gulbrandsen, 2020). The risks include avoiding medical vocabularies and actively engaging Riffat explain unique health norms through teaching back to improve understanding.
Did You Know of Any Food, Transportation that Would Help You Stay at Home?
As explained by Mr. Riffat, his health caregiver insisted on a proper diet and physical exercises. For example, Riffat explains that he is instructed not to take sugary food, to eat many fruits, and take plenty of water. Additionally, Mr. Riffat is under instructions to do morning jogs, runs, and sit-ups. Mr. Riffat understands that these exercises help him reduce blood clots and improve blood circulation and digestion. Mr. Riffat has an exercise schedule that helps him do different physical activities each day.
Moreover, the nurse joins Mr. Riffat in his morning and evening exercise. Further, the nurse recommends to Mr. Riffat food stores where to obtain organic food. Personalized care is key in improving a patient’s health, particularly when the patient is at the center of the care schedule. Mr.Riffat’s nurse is a responsible nurse that has taught him to do regular exercises that promotes good health.
Who Assisted You at Home After Illness?
Given that education is a process of time, Mr. Riffat says that his nurse connected him with gym instructors and food vendors to help him get care when the nurse is not available. Mr. Riffat appreciates the impact of health interventions on his present and long-term health care. Mr.Riffat’s physician spends time and energy educating him to ensure Riffat has behavioral change, improving health, and hence reducing morbidity and mortality due to diabetes. In conclusion, there is a cordial partnership between Mr. Riffat and his physician to improve his health.
References
Gulbrandsen, P. (2020). Shared decision-making: Improving doctor-patient communication. BMJ, m97. Web.
Jung, M., & Roh, Y. (2020). Factors influencing the patient education performance of hemodialysis unit nurses. Patient Education and Counseling, 103(12), 2483-2488. Web.
Paterick, T., Patel, N., Tajik, A., & Chandrasekaran, K. (2017). Improving health outcomes through patient education and partnerships with patients. Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings, 30(1), 112-113. Web.