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Alternative assignment for the internship: Satisfaction with the GP

The following is a short report of the results of the interview that I conducted on two patients with chronic diseases. The first patient was male aged 34 years with cancer disease and the other one was a female aged 40 with diabetes. The male patient was not satisfied with the treatment in general while the female patient seemed to accept and acknowledge the kind of treatment she was getting from the GP.

Similarities and differences among the perceptions of the patients regarding collaboration with the physician

Differences

Cancer patient Diabetes patient

This patient was completely negative about the communication and collaboration with the physician. He said that the physician did not explain to him the cause of his pain, the type of medication he was prescribed, the fate of his sickness, the need to use the drugs despite the fact that the pain was relentless, and effects of not using the drugs accordingly. The patient was positive and collaborated well with the physician. She acknowledged that the physician had taken time with her, and explained everything concerning his sickness. The physician explained the type of medication, the need for taking medication according to prescription, and the effects of using drugs without adhering to physician prescription.

The patient perceived the physicians, continual prescription of the same drugs as bad and negligence of his pain. Again, the patient perceived the physician’s assertiveness over the disease as not comforting and bad. Cooperation of the patient and the physician was also bad. The patient was weary of using pain killers but the pain was persistent. The physician did not take a step to explain to the patient about his pain. The patient was not willing to cooperate with the physician again. Corporation and communication between the patient and the physician was good. The patient was very cooperative on physician’s prescriptions and advice on drugs usage. In fact, the patient and the physician had developed lasting friendship.

Whenever the patient needed any clarification, the physician was ready to provide. There was great cooperation between the patient and the physician. But the patient confirmed that before she knew the physician, there communication was not good although she cooperated.

Collaboration /communication affected patient adherence to drugs to a very great extent. This patient was not willing to adhere to the prescription due to poor communication. She was affected greatly by the communication and corporation. Adherence to drugs was good due to good communication.

Similarities

Both patients at least suffered poor communication with the physician.

After listening to the interviewee’s views about communication and corporation with GPs, I conclude that the physician dealing with the patient with cancer acted badly to the patient. He was not compassionate and did not show any care for the patient. Lack of his interest in meeting the patients care led to poor adherence to prescription. The patient needed little attention which the physician did not provide. If it were me I could have taken keen interest and listen to what the client needs. After careful thought I will advise the patient on his sickness and put him on rehabilitation program. Most importantly I could explain the need for some drugs to particular diseases. I could act as the physician in charge of the diabetic case.

My opinion

According to my opinion the physicians must treat patients with care and communicate appropriately the need for drugs. The physician should explain the need for the patient to adhere to the prescription and the importance of so doing. Instead of prescribing the drugs without explaining the reason for the prescription, they should take time and explain the effects of the drug its connection in treating the disease the patient is suffering from. The physicians should also liaise with the nurses to ensure that the nurses helped the patients to use the drugs as prescribed especially the patients with chronic illness. For the cancer case rehabilitation and pain management strategies are the best.

Lastly, the physician should allow the patients to participate in their care and treatment. They should be listened to and if possible, change of drugs if some drugs did not produce good results.