Post a brief description of the situation you experienced and explain how incorporating or not incorporating patient preferences, social determinants of healthLinks to an external site., and values impacted the outcome of their treatment plan. Be specific and provide examples. Then, explain how including patient preferences, social determinants of health, and values might impact the trajectory of the situation and how these were reflected in the treatment plan. Finally, explain the value of the patient decision aid you selected and how it might contribute to effective decision making, both in general and in the experience you described. Describe how you might use this decision aid inventory in your professional practice or personal life.
(Please Note: The underlined “social determinants of health” in the above content is meant to hotlink to the following Walden webpage and content:
To Prepare:
- Review the Resources and reflect on a time when you experienced a patient being brought into (or not being brought into) a decision regarding their treatment plan.
- Review the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute’s Decision Aids Inventory at https://decisionaid.ohri.ca/Links to an external site..
- Choose “For Specific Conditions,” then Browsean alphabetical listing of decision aids by health topic.
- After you have chosen a topic (or condition) and a decision aid, consider if social determinants of healthLinks to an external site.were considered in the treatment plan Social determinants of health can affect a patient’s decision as these are conditions in the patient’s environment, such as economic stability, education access, health care access and quality, neighborhood, and social and community context.
- NOTE:To ensure compliance with HIPAA rules, please DO NOT use the patient’s real name or any information that might identify the patient or organization/practice.
250 words. Apa format. 3 intext citation and 3 references. Article 2019 above. Note I work as a MiCU RN
When reflecting on my experiences as a Medical Intensive Care Unit (MiCU) registered nurse, one significant instance comes to mind where incorporating patient preferences and social determinants of health critically impacted the treatment plan and outcome. This involved a patient who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and was facing decisions regarding long-term ventilation management.
This patient, from a low-income neighborhood, had limited access to consistent outpatient care, which exacerbated his condition. Initially, the treatment plan did not fully consider these social determinants of health, focusing solely on the immediate clinical needs without addressing the broader context of his environment and access to follow-up care.
The turning point came when we integrated a decision aid tool from the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute’s Decision Aids Inventory, specifically designed for patients considering options for managing COPD. This tool helped the patient understand the potential benefits and drawbacks of different ventilation strategies, including invasive and non-invasive methods, and how these options would align with his personal values and lifestyle.
By incorporating the patient’s preferences and understanding the impact of his socioeconomic situation, we adjusted the treatment plan to include more robust support for home care and regular follow-up visits with a community health worker. This approach not only aligned with the patient’s values and preferences but also acknowledged the crucial role his social determinants of health played in his overall treatment and recovery.
Using such decision aids can profoundly impact patient outcomes by ensuring that treatment plans are more holistic and personalized, which can significantly enhance adherence and satisfaction. In my professional practice, I plan to continue leveraging these tools to facilitate shared decision-making, ensuring that treatment plans are not only clinically effective but also culturally and socially appropriate.
References:
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. (2019). Decision Aids Inventory. Retrieved from https://decisionaid.ohri.ca/
- Social Determinants of Health – Academic Guides at Walden University. (n.d.). Retrieved from [Walden University Link]
- Bunn, F., & Trivedi, D. (2020). The importance of integrating patient preferences and social determinants of health in clinical practice. Annals of Internal Medicine, 172(3), 197-198. DOI: 10.7326/M19-2408.