Response Patient Preferences and Decision Making
The patient decision aid provides options and information concerning different health issues (The Ottawa Hospital, 2020). In the case of the cancer patient, the decision aid would be useful in availing different options. However, as you have indicated, the decision aid did not have information regarding comfort care. The decision concerning the patients’ comfort care would thus have to be made based on patient preference. A patient-centered approach would, therefore, be instrumental in realizing positive patient outcomes. Patient centeredness involves taking the patient’s lifestyle, family, cultural, social, emotional, and physical aspects (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2018) into consideration. It is in this regard that you considered the patients cultural perspective during your decision making on comfort care. The Latino cultural aspect of which the patient was from is highly family-oriented (Foster, 2018) family equally played a significant role in the treatment decision-making process.
Evidence-based practice involves health care providers such as medical professionals as well as patients (Laureate Education, 2018). The practice cannot, however, function without shared decision making efforts (Hoffman, Montori, & Del Mar, 2014). The inclusion of patients is evident in the critical role patients play in the process. It, therefore, means that competent, evidence-based practice has to include shared decision making. Shared decision making between the patient and the physician was effectively practiced in your case, which is commendable. Listening to and respecting patient preferences is essential. However, as you have indicated, the patient’s decision is based on other factors such as family and culture. The medical professional should honor patient preference over family preferences (Sedig, 2016). Such influence, for example, caused the patient unnecessary exacerbated suffering. It is in this regard that open and transparent information sharing between the physician and patient is essential.
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