Answer

Collaboration of Patient Education and Compliance of Older Adults

The purpose of this essay is to reflect on the influence of education on a patient’s experience with the health care system. The essay centers on a 67-year old Caucasian male who had been diagnosed of chronic bronchitis, 4 months prior to the interview. Before developing this condition he had a 23 year history of smoking two packs of cigarettes per day but he admits that he has quit the habit and tries as much as possible to stay away from other smokers. Prognosis is good and he rarely experiences symptoms of late following treatment and medical advice, which included smoking cessation.

The patient admits that he received adequate and helpful education from a registered nurse after diagnosis of his condition. The registered nurse not only educated him about the link between cigarette smoke and chronic bronchitis, but also educated him about other risk factors such as fumes, air pollution, and dust. Luckily, enough he says that he lives in a less polluted countryside where exposure to the above and other risk factors is minute. In addition, the registered nurse had put him in a pulmonary rehabilitation program for three months, three days in a week, that included exercise training, nutritional counseling, education about chronic bronchitis and how to manage it, techniques for saving his energy, breathing strategies, psychological counseling, and group support. He comments that this program was a game changer to him, since he can now perform his activities of daily living comfortably without experiencing breathing difficulties.

A part from receiving proper advice on exercise and diet, he also received clear instructions on how to take his medications. He does not have other chronic conditions; therefore, he admits that he can manage his chronic bronchitis medications without difficulty and in accordance with the prescription instructions. He uses a metered dose inhaler and Roflumilast. The patient noted that the registered nurse had put more emphasize on the need to quit smoking than on medication management. Therefore, he decided to quit smoking altogether; although it was not easy in the beginning.

The patient is living with his 54-year old wife and the eldest son. The eldest son is the breadwinner of the family and he takes good care if his parents. Neither his wife nor his son smokes, therefore, the home environment is favorable for living with respect to avoiding exposure to cigarette smoke. The family is supportive in helping him manage his condition.

The follow-up nurse has informed him about a range of assistance services in his community to help him properly manage his condition. He is informed about community support groups, ambulances services with contacts, smoking rehabilitation centers within in community, as well as clinic and hospitals where he can visits incase his condition worsens or for medical refills.

In conclusion, the patient has had a good experience with the healthcare system. Since diagnosis and treatment of his condition, he does not experience symptoms as frequent as before. Besides, he has quitted smoking behavior, following medical advice including dieting and exercising, and is managing his medications very well. He has a supportive family and lives in a good environment, which favors better prognosis of his condition.