Effectiveness of Patient Education on Reducing Diabetic Foot

Introduction

With the provided scientific insights on health, the positive role of physical activity and lifestyle can affect the internal functions of the body. People are always warned about the various life threatening diseases. Apparently, there are an alarming growing numbers of patients diagnosed with different illness and complications. And the most recognizable diseases that are commonly plaguing the society are the heart diseases and diabetes.

Background and Problem Statement

Solving the health problems is the most critical strategy in the medical society. The problem of diabetes and the lack of knowledge about the disease make it even worse. According to the medical experts, diabetes is usually characterized with high blood sugar or Hyperglycemia in medical terms. It is also defined when the body’s blood glucose level is equal or more than 200 mg/dl (Leung, 2007). However, the deep explanation regarding the disease is difficult for the patient if he doesn’t understand the complexities involved in the current situation. Many proposed that patient education regarding the said disease is a good step for the early recovery of the patient. The question is, how effective the patient education will be to help reduce the diabetic foot problem among the patients.

Research Aims and Objectives

The main aim of the study is to deliver the idea about the effectiveness of patient education more especially in diabetic patients. To support this sole goal of the study there are three objectives that can serve as the driver of the study in focusing to the outcome. The first objective of the study is to provide the information regarding the education in diabetes. Second is to recognize the perceptions of diabetic patients, as well as their families, about the offered patient education. And third is to provide the additional thrust for the continuous campaign and promotion about the collaboration of patients’ concern and education.

Literature Review

In medical terms, the diabetes is characterized with the fluctuation of blood glucose happened before and after meal, therefore it is advised that a diabetic patient should undergo in a 8-hour fasting. This disease is classified in four categories, the type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus); type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus); gestational diabetes, which occurs in pregnant women but often disappears after pregnancy; and other diabetic diseases caused by genetic abnormalities, medication use, and associated illness (Leung, 2007). The knowledge in diabetes, its types, symptoms, complications, and ways of achieving good controls with the major emphasis on diet and exercise are part of the education. With the use of the visual aids, printed pamphlets and oral communication, the education for the diabetic patients will be effective (Mani, et al., 1989). Through the application of the education, the risk can be reduced if the person with diabetic symptoms will reduce his weight and maintained an ideal healthy lifestyle. Significantly, the lifestyle is related with the activities and body functions affects the glucose and body fats. Experts also added that a regular physical activity like exercise and healthy diet can help attain the ideal body weight of a diabetic person (Thompson, 2004).The health providers offer weight loss and physical activity programs to help the patients change their lifestyle and guiding their hourly meal. The importance of exercise and healthy lifestyle is encouraging the youth and the parents to help prevent this kind of disease. Many advocates already implemented the education of the relationship of the lifestyle and diabetes and the idea of self managing techniques. These techniques are applied in individuals who have the high diabetes risk. Together with the change in lifestyle, the blood monitoring and management and proper prescription can slow the progression of the disease. About the issue of diabetic foot, the self monitoring and management can be done through simple steps by daily checking the feet if it is showing the sores and the blood pressure. These simple means can save the future of every individual who faces the disease (Cammy, 2005).

Methodology

The proposed method in the study is the use survey and interview. The participants are the diabetic patients and their families in one hospital setting. In the first phase, the participants were asked to answer the survey based on their previous experience. And on the interview, the participants are the close people related to the patients are interviewed regarding their level of understanding about diabetes. The use of the survey and interview allows the study to analyze the present situation of the diabetic patients and their families.

References:

Cammy, A., (2005) “Complications of Diabetes Module”, Virtual Laboratories Stanford University, Accessed 08 June 2010, from http://virtuallabs.stanford.edu/diabetes/DiabetesModuleTextAll.pdf

Leung, R., (2007) “Preventing and Treating Type 2 Diabetes through a Physically Active Lifestyle: With Type 2 Diabetes Exploding in the School Population, Physical Educators Can Play an Important Role in Countering the Disease”. JOPERD – The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, Vol. 78, No. 4

Mani, U.V., Srivastava, R., Mani, I., Parekh, A., Shah, V., Mehta, N.C., Patel, H.R., Dosi, M., & Iyer, U.N. (1989) “Effect of Diabetic Patient Education in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus”, Accessed 08 June 2010, from http://www.rssdi.org/1989_october/original_article2.pdf

Thompson, T., (Sec.) (2004) “Diabetes: A National Plan for Action”, Department of Health and Human Services, Accessed 08 June 2010, from http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/NDAP/NDAP04.pdf

Boundaries to Nurse-Patient Relationship

Introduction

The professional workers in the hospitals serve the people with all their knowledge and skills in medicine. Through their standardized habits and principles in working inside the hospital a relationship is settled between the patients and the health care providers. That relationship is build with trust and through the selfless service of the health care providers the quality of care is being delivered.

Background and Problem Statement

Health care providers such as doctors and nurses are under the umbrella of the hospital organization to serve their patient with all their knowledge and skills. Most of the time, the nurses are the personnel that creates a full connection with the patients. From time-to-time, the nurses take a round for observation and monitoring in the status of the patients. Through that simple practice, the nurses are establishing an open communication with the patients that can help them provide more service. However, the hospital and health care organizations settled a standard that is called the Professional Boundaries, but on what way that the Professional Boundaries can affect the nurse-patient relationship?

Research Objectives

The study found two basic objectives which is first is to determine the boundaries of the nurse-patient relationship according to the Professional Standards. And second is to push the idea about the benefits that the standards might cause another justification on the strong relationship of the nurses toward their patients.

Research Questions

The study acknowledges the importance of a relationship in terms of promoting the quality of health. Therefore, there are several questions being prepared to help the study achieved or meet its objectives.

1. What are the common applied methods or practices of the nurses to answer the needs of the patients?

2. What are the behaviors of the nurses that can be avoided in creating the relationship?

3. What is the impact of the Professional Boundaries Standards in the practice and health outcome of the patients?

Literature Review

The nurse-patient relationship has been established to maintain the application of the professional knowledge and skills and being facilitated by the nurses. Through the attitudes of the nurses as well as their behaviors, the center of the therapeutic care can be successful. Through the relationship, the nurses will perform according to his or her duty and aims for meeting the patient’s needs and the positive health outcome. The relationship can also serve as the basis of the decision-making and can be also under some limitations. The limitation in the nurse-patient relationship is called the Professional Boundaries Standards (Professional Boundaries Standards for Nurses, 2005). The standard is focus mainly in the therapeutic relationship of the nurse and patients. Within the line of the therapeutics relationship, the deliverance of the professional relationship is emphasized, which all are pertaining to the interaction of the patient and nurses in meeting the outcome of health. The nurse is the one responsible all throughout the relationship and they are also challenged by some external needs that are out of their profession (NBV, 2007). The creation of the boundaries can limit the connection between the patient and nurse and the can avoid the issue of harm and other similar forms such as sexual attraction. In addition, the economic needs of any parties can be also avoided in the areas of medical practice. The boundaries are created to ensure that the nurses are obeying or to comply on their role in the therapeutic relationship. The Professional Boundaries Standards is also guided by the ethical and moral values within the hospital settings (Mallett, 2002). Through the limitation in the relationship, the power can be applied by the nurses can be assisted by the rules of conduct and with awareness and validity for they duly created a decision.

Methodology

The suggested method in the study is the use of the comparative case study. The applied method will provide the idea in where the current study can inherit the learning from the past literature. Through the review, comparison of the different professional views, and identifying the different situations, the comprehensive analysis can be generated. In addition, the ethical practice implemented within the hospitals can be also the basis for the effective adoption of the nurses on the Professional Boundaries Standards.

Conclusion

The ultimate purpose of the boundaries in the nurse-patient relationship is to assist the nurse in creating the valid decision because of the spaces provided between them and their patients. The professional behavior of the nurses is also tested in which they must act according to what they learned and not entirely through their feelings.

References:

Mallett, R., 2002. Professional and Expectation for Nurse-Client Relationship in the Home Setting [Online] Available at: http://www.ohpco.org/pdf/white_paper_professional_boundaries_and_expectation_for_nurses.pdf [Accessed 08 March 2010].

NBV, 2007. Professional Boundaries - Guidelines for Registered Nurses in Victoria, Nurses Board of Victoria [Online] Available at: http://www.nbv.org.au/c/document_library/get_file?p_l_id=10327&folderId=13039&name=DLFE-241.pdf [Accessed 08 March 2010].

Professional Boundaries Standards for Nurses, 2005 [Online] Available at: http://www.nursingboardtas.org [Accessed 08 March 2010].