Entry id
1_dbi3x8i7
Individualizing Therapy: Setting the Patient Up for Success
So when I'm sitting in the clinic and I see a patient for the first time, I know I'm going to be taking a long journey with that patient. And so we need to first realize that as physicians, that right from the very beginning, you have to individualize therapy plan. And I think the first and foremost question that we as physicians ask ourselves is how do we identify a patient who is at higher risk for that particular tumor, or in this case breast cancer? And what is their risk of perhaps poor adhesion and persistence? And I've talked about barriers before, but I think you need to actually think about these various components when you are actually taking your patient through that journey. Medication-specific factors, illness-specific factors, patient-specific factors. And I think patient-specific factors is something we should not forget as physicians, where is your patient coming from? Ethnicity makes an issue. Cultural barriers are an issue as well, and you need to be able to address that right from the very beginning.
01:26
How do I manage this in my clinic? Again, establishing a relationship with your patient. Positive beliefs and views on medications are also so important. I have a patient currently in my clinic that will not take any oral medication no matter what you do. And you have to be able to circumvent that and actually talk to your patient as to why do they have these beliefs? Is there a way that we could potentially overcome that barrier? So understanding those key beliefs of your patient is also very, very important. So how do I motivate my patient? Like I said, it's not only motivating your patients, sometimes it's motivating the family members that are with your patient, because they can help in that decision making process. They can help your patient sometimes who doesn't believe what you are saying, but the family members are believing what you're saying.
02:20
To take them through that journey and say, "Trust your physician, take the medication, work together so that we can make a therapy plan that's best for you." Identifying risks are also I think something that we can't negate. Risk in terms of what is going to benefit patients, what is not going to benefit your patient. So when I'm in my clinic, and I have my patient for the first time, I think the three points that I would take away from this conversation is, you need to be able to individualize plan of care for your patient. It's not just a one stop shop thing, it's a journey that you take your patients through. And remember, it's a shared decision making process, not only with your patient, but the members of the family of the patient. And developing that relationship with your patient is key, and you're not going to be able to develop it on one sitting. It's that journey that you take your patient through that's going to develop your relationship.
So when I'm sitting in the clinic and I see a patient for the first time, I know I'm going to be taking a long journey with that patient. And so we need to first realize that as physicians, that right from the very beginning, you have to individualize therapy plan. And I think the first and foremost question that we as physicians ask ourselves is how do we identify a patient who is at higher risk for that particular tumor, or in this case breast cancer? And what is their risk of perhaps poor adhesion and persistence? And I've talked about barriers before, but I think you need to actually think about these various components when you are actually taking your patient through that journey. Medication-specific factors, illness-specific factors, patient-specific factors. And I think patient-specific factors is something we should not forget as physicians, where is your patient coming from? Ethnicity makes an issue. Cultural barriers are an issue as well, and you need to be able to address that right from the very beginning.
01:26
How do I manage this in my clinic? Again, establishing a relationship with your patient. Positive beliefs and views on medications are also so important. I have a patient currently in my clinic that will not take any oral medication no matter what you do. And you have to be able to circumvent that and actually talk to your patient as to why do they have these beliefs? Is there a way that we could potentially overcome that barrier? So understanding those key beliefs of your patient is also very, very important. So how do I motivate my patient? Like I said, it's not only motivating your patients, sometimes it's motivating the family members that are with your patient, because they can help in that decision making process. They can help your patient sometimes who doesn't believe what you are saying, but the family members are believing what you're saying.
02:20
To take them through that journey and say, "Trust your physician, take the medication, work together so that we can make a therapy plan that's best for you." Identifying risks are also I think something that we can't negate. Risk in terms of what is going to benefit patients, what is not going to benefit your patient. So when I'm in my clinic, and I have my patient for the first time, I think the three points that I would take away from this conversation is, you need to be able to individualize plan of care for your patient. It's not just a one stop shop thing, it's a journey that you take your patients through. And remember, it's a shared decision making process, not only with your patient, but the members of the family of the patient. And developing that relationship with your patient is key, and you're not going to be able to develop it on one sitting. It's that journey that you take your patient through that's going to develop your relationship.