DOC News July 1, 2007
Volume 4 Number 7 p. 19
© 2007 American Diabetes Association
All in the Family
It's often said that effective medical care involves the whole family.
This may be especially true when it comes to diabetes and obesity,
given that family members play a critical role in related health behaviors.
Families often prepare and eat meals as a group and engage in recreational and
physical activities together. A spouse, partner, parent, or child can help the
patient adhere to a treatment plan.
But how? What are the ways in which family members can be recruited to
the cause of good health?
DOC News asked:
How do you get family involved in patient care?
It's a challenge. A lot of it depends on whether patients are comfortable
with their family being involved. Sometimes when people have chronic
conditions, they aren't too open about telling people that they may a have
serious health condition.
It can definitely help to have family involved. Family members can offer
support and get involved with care on a daily basis. When the family is there
to make sure the patient does what needs to be done, that's a huge help.
Delia Houseal, MPH
Public Health Analyst
Washington, D.C.
As an incentive to get the patient to come to the clinic to see the doctor,
I got [products] from the American Indian Relief Council—lotions,
household cleaning products, personal hygiene products.
When they come to the clinic, I give them a bag of toothpaste,
toothbrushes, and stuff like that. For infants, we have diapers. When I go
visit people, I take things with me. People like that. They ask me to come
back again.
Jaqueline Driver
Community Health Representative
Fort Yates, N.D.
It's definitely important to have family on your side. In some of the
education programs we've done—most of my experience is with the
elderly—it was key that they could bring their significant other with
them. For one thing, somebody else is hearing the message. Particularly with
men, it was important to have the wives there because the wives are doing the
cooking. So to encourage them to come [we] tell them that it's an open forum.
Your family or friends are welcome to attend sessions.
The spouse or family members often speak up in meetings. They help the
whole experience, I think. It helps to have another set of ears, to help with
problem-solving.
Janice Zgibor, PhD
Director of Evaluation
Pittsburgh, Pa.
CiteULike 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati What's this?
