Question

Disorders of the endocrine system affect many individuals. Providing multidimensional patient care can be challenging for patients experiencing these disorders. Ensuring the plan of care meets the patient and family needs is important in order to increase adherence to proper medical treatment following discharge.

What does it mean to provide a multidimensional approach? Provide at least three examples of how the care team can meet the patient and the family’s needs? List at least three care team members and how are they involved in providing multidimensional care?

Answer 1

Mutidimensional approach means providing care focusing on not only the physical well being , but all aspects of well being including physical, psychological, emotional, social, spiritual, culural etc. A person's health and well being are affected by the interaction of all these factors. So, while managing a patient, we need to manage the person as a whole, not his physical symptoms only. So the health care team need to focus on biological (physical or bodily), psychological (emotional, behavioral) and social (economic, cultural,familial etc). We need to consider these factors while considering the etiology and risk factors of a particular health problem. There may be involvement and interaction of these factors in the causation of heath problems. We have to look at the impact of the illness or health problem, in all of these dimensions. We can see not only biological symptoms, but also psychological, social, spiriual, occupational, familial consequences of the illness.Similarly while managing the patient, we need to provide care focusing on his physical, pasychological, social, spiritual as well as all the dimensions. that means we need to provide care for the individual, not for his physical illness. that will help to provide a comprehensive , holistic and individualized care, which will yield a better patient outcome.

Examples for meeting patient and family needs :

1. Care in physical or biological dimension : Screening tests, early identification , prompt treatment etc. Providing medicines, hormonal therapy will help to care the patient.

2. Psychological care ; Assessing the psychological satus of the client, providing emotional support, patient education, counselling, psychological therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy etc.

3. Social : Assessing the social background, support systems etc. Providing social support,empowering the patient and family and vocational support etc will be important.

Health care team members : Team work is an important factor in implementing the multidimensional approach. The important team members are Doctors, Nurses, Psychologists, Physiotherapists, Social workers, Pharmacists, Lab technicians etc. All of these helath care members need to function as a team

1. Physicains : Involved in diagnosing and treating the disease. They can detcet the symptoms at an early stage , suggest diagnostic tests, and provide appropriate treatment.

2.Nurses ; Nurses can act a major role in coordinating all the team members. They can provide comprehensive, holistic care which is highly individualized. They can provide education, health care counselling and support to patient and family and thus empower them.

3. Psychologists : They can focus on the emotional and psychological well being. They can assess the psychological symptoms and impact, and can provide support through psycho education, counselling, psychotherapies etc.

patient and family need to get proper education, counselling and support, so that they are empowered to manage their health problem or disorder. They should receive motivation and confidence so that they adhere with the treatment plan. Health care counselling and Behavior change communication is much important. Thsese all are possible through multidimensional approach.