55-year-old Asian female living in a high-density public housing complex

55-year-old Asian female living in a high-density public housing complex

Summary of interview

Patient Scenario:

As emphasized in the Seidels Physical Examination book, it’s essential for healthcare providers to see the world from the patient’s perspective to avoid misunderstandings (Ball et al., 2019). Each patient has unique circumstances, and the initial meeting sets the tone for the patient-provider relationship (Ball et al., 2019). Effective communication, both physically and emotionally, is crucial. Crafting questions that match the patient’s comfort level is equally important (Ball et al., 2019).

In the case of my patient, a 55-year-old Asian woman residing in a high-density public housing complex, I followed the courtesy, comfort, connection, and confirmation framework during our interview. I began by addressing her formally, learning her name, and respecting her need for modesty, including her preference for having others in the room (Ball et al., 2019). Given her age, I aimed to ensure her comfort, considering potential cognitive changes. I made sure the room settings wouldn’t exacerbate any issues (Ball et al., 2019). This approach aimed to establish trust and comfort between us. I encouraged her to speak openly, allowing her to share as much as she felt comfortable with. To respect her boundaries, I even asked about her comfort level with eye contact, letting her guide the discussion.

Given her living conditions in a high-density public housing complex, my initial questions focused on her home and surroundings. I inquired about the number of people she lived with, her furnishings, and whether she had any pets (Ball et al., 2019). Additionally, I asked about her family, occupation, potential risks, travel habits, and access to healthcare, including transportation and insurance coverage (Ball et al., 2019). This comprehensive interview provided insights into her daily life and emotional well-being.

Risk Assessment Tool

To assess my patient’s risks, I utilized open-ended questions and considered her living situation in a high-density complex. This setting could pose fall risks and potentially delay access to necessary care (Adly et al., 2019). Evaluating her mobility and healthcare access was essential. Understanding these aspects would enable the development of a tailored care plan to meet her specific needs.

NURS 6512 discussion post; AG is a 54-year-old Caucasian male

Targeted Questions

To create a customized care plan for my patient based on her age and socioeconomic status, I would ask the following questions:

1. What is your current employment status?
2. Can you describe your daily routine?
3. When do you typically wake up, and what are your preferred meals?
4. Do you live with family members? If not, how often do you see or visit them?
5. How do you generally feel?
6. Are you currently taking any medications?
7. Do you have reliable transportation?
8. Are you interested in participating in physical activities?
9. What is your insurance status?
10. When was your last doctor’s visit?

Reference

Adly, N. N., Abd-El-Gawad, W. M., & Abou-Hashem, R. M. (2019). Relationship between malnutrition and different fall risk assessment tools in a geriatric in-patient unit. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 32(7), 1279-1287. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01309-0

Ball, J.W., Dains, J.E., Flynn, J.A, Solomon, B. S., & Stewart, R. W. (2019). Seidel’s guide to physical examination: An interprofessional approach (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.

response

Your input was highly informative, and I appreciate the insights you shared. I completely agree with the importance of maintaining a non-judgmental approach and utilizing open-ended questions, especially when communicating with teenagers. Effective communication, whether it’s giving or receiving information, can indeed be quite challenging. There are several techniques that can enhance communication skills, such as increasing cultural awareness and understanding diverse life experiences and cultures, fostering empathy and compassion, and being attentive to one’s body language as well as that of the patient or others (Raypole, 2020).

Regarding the case study involving the 16-year-old female, her age does place her at a higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs). According to the CDC, young people aged 15 to 24 account for half of the 26 million new STIs reported in the United States. Furthermore, it’s concerning to note that 12.7% of sexually active adolescents and young adults who are covered under their parents’ health insurance may avoid seeking sexual and reproductive healthcare due to the fear of their parents discovering it (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021).

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, April 8). Adolescents and young adults. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/std/life-stages-populations/adolescents-youngadults.htm.

Raypole, C. (2020, January 16). 19 communication techniques to add to your arsenal. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/communication-techniques#body-language.

response 2

I want to express my gratitude for your valuable insights during this discussion. I completely agree that applying the courtesy, comfort, connection, and confirmation approach can greatly enhance communication and rapport-building with patients. Effective communication is indeed a complex skill to master. It involves various techniques, including increasing cultural awareness, understanding diverse life experiences and cultures, developing empathy and compassion, and being attuned to one’s own body language as well as that of the patient or others (Raypole, 2020).

High-density housing environments do present specific health risks. These include infectious diseases like sexually transmitted infections (STIs), tuberculosis, pneumonia, and diarrheal illnesses, as well as non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, asthma, cancer, diabetes, and even mental health issues like depression (World Health Organization, 2021). Research has also shown that living in high-density housing can impact respiratory health due to poor air quality and limited opportunities for physical activity (Chen et al., 2019).

References

Chen, R., Li, X., Sun, W., Wang, L., & Yang, X. (2019, December 30). Impact of high-density urban built environment on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A case study of Jing’an district, Shanghai. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6982330/.

Raypole, C. (2020, January 16). 19 communication techniques to add to your arsenal. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/communication-techniques#body-language.

World Health Organization. (2021). Urban health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/health-topics/urban-health.