Opinion
Book reviews Embracing Empathy in Healthcare Annemieke P Bikker, Philip Cotton and Stewart W Mercer Radcliffe £32.99 | 144pp ISBN: 9781909368187 PATIENTS AND carers expect to be engaged in a partnership with healthcare practitioners and wish to be informed about and involved in decisions. The hallmark of high quality care is responding effectively to the needs of each individual. The CARE approach is a framework for empathic, person-centred healthcare interactions. As the main theme of this book is communication, attention is paid to building self-confidence through defining self-esteem and self-efficacy in the context of patient-centred care. To enable easy communication of these concepts good use is made of short overviews and tables, which is necessary for the heavy workloads prevalent in health and social care. The CARE approach learning tool
consists of eight modules focusing on the attitudes, beliefs and values that healthcare professionals bring to each encounter in the context of teamwork. This approach will inspire and support healthcare staff in their encounters with patients. It will also help in interactions with colleagues and friends. The style of writing uses familiar terms while defining them for the specific focus of the CARE approach. This could be the most valuable part of the book, because it encourages readers to use these terms with greater insight than without the careful thought which is provided here. The video clips are excellent examples of good communication, short and demonstrating verbal and non-verbal skills. This practical book could improve professional healthcare communication in all settings. In contrast to most publications in the health and social sector, the focus here is universal and not confined to one professional group. The large format also makes it ideal for teaching purposes. The text is supported by carefully documented bibliographical references. Margot Lindsay, associate staff, University College London
Listen, Talk, Connect: Communicating with People Living with Dementia Various Care UK 68pp Free download THIS BOOK is aimed at carers, relatives and friends of people living with dementia. It can be downloaded from Care UK’s website at www.careuk.com/talk-dementia. It is excellent, attractively presented and easy to read. The book contains guiding principles, based on evidence-based practice in dementia care, in addition to useful practical tips. As Maizie Mears-Owen, head of dementia at Care UK, says, its primary goal is ‘to assist friends, carers and relatives to continue having meaningful conversations and shared moments with anyone living with dementia’ and in this it succeeds. I would recommend it to all members of the healthcare team. Claire Chatterton, staff tutor, Faculty of Health and Social Care, The Open University
Viewpoint
An open and honest approach to diagnosis THE CONCEPT of pre- and post-diagnostic counselling is not new. If it is delivered effectively, it can be empowering for patients and give them a sense of control. While every service may not have a clear system to support all the principles, every member of the nursing team can improve the communication skills they bring to the counselling process. Pre-diagnostic counselling begins before embarking on any assessment of patients with a potentially life-changing condition such as dementia. For my service, this means that I first clarify that patients understand why they are there. In doing this I do use frightening words like ‘dementia’ and ‘Alzheimer’s disease’. As I practise in a rural environment, I also ask questions about driving to ensure that people are aware of 10 October 2014 | Volume 26 | Number 8
the possible implications of a diagnosis of dementia. I recognise that this makes them anxious but it is, unfortunately, necessary. Patients should understand what they are being assessed for and have the right to say no or delay the assessment until they feel able to engage in the process. Offering a second appointment at a later date, with the same clinician to deliver a diagnosis, enables me to recheck decisions about whether people want a diagnosis and who they agree to sharing it with. As I am imparting a diagnosis of a terminal illness, it is important to support it with written information. I also try to give the diagnosis at the earliest but most appropriate point, after completing introductions, confirming that patients want
the information, updating myself on their situation and what they have done since I last saw them. I then move on to discussing treatment options and the way forward. There is also the opportunity for questions. There is no reason for honest and open communication to be excluded from routine assessments for any life-changing condition, whether that is dementia or any number of physical health problems. But the essence of effective pre- and post-diagnostic counselling is preparation. Patients should be fully prepared for any potential diagnosis and the reality or implications of the diagnosis. Sue Edwards is a community mental health nurse, South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust NURSING OLDER PEOPLE
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Book reviews Embracing Empathy in Healthcare Annemieke P Bikker, Philip Cotton and Stewart W Mercer Radcliffe £32.99 | 144pp ISBN: 9781909368187 PATIENTS AND carers expect to be engaged in a partnership with healthcare practitioners and wish to be informed about and involved in decisions. The hallmark of high quality care is responding effectively to the needs of each individual. The CARE approach is a framework for empathic, person-centred healthcare interactions. As the main theme of this book is communication, attention is paid to building self-confidence through defining self-esteem and self-efficacy in the context of patient-centred care. To enable easy communication of these concepts good use is made of short overviews and tables, which is necessary for the heavy workloads prevalent in health and social care. The CARE approach learning tool
consists of eight modules focusing on the attitudes, beliefs and values that healthcare professionals bring to each encounter in the context of teamwork. This approach will inspire and support healthcare staff in their encounters with patients. It will also help in interactions with colleagues and friends. The style of writing uses familiar terms while defining them for the specific focus of the CARE approach. This could be the most valuable part of the book, because it encourages readers to use these terms with greater insight than without the careful thought which is provided here. The video clips are excellent examples of good communication, short and demonstrating verbal and non-verbal skills. This practical book could improve professional healthcare communication in all settings. In contrast to most publications in the health and social sector, the focus here is universal and not confined to one professional group. The large format also makes it ideal for teaching purposes. The text is supported by carefully documented bibliographical references. Margot Lindsay, associate staff, University College London
Listen, Talk, Connect: Communicating with People Living with Dementia Various Care UK 68pp Free download THIS BOOK is aimed at carers, relatives and friends of people living with dementia. It can be downloaded from Care UK’s website at www.careuk.com/talk-dementia. It is excellent, attractively presented and easy to read. The book contains guiding principles, based on evidence-based practice in dementia care, in addition to useful practical tips. As Maizie Mears-Owen, head of dementia at Care UK, says, its primary goal is ‘to assist friends, carers and relatives to continue having meaningful conversations and shared moments with anyone living with dementia’ and in this it succeeds. I would recommend it to all members of the healthcare team. Claire Chatterton, staff tutor, Faculty of Health and Social Care, The Open University
Viewpoint
An open and honest approach to diagnosis THE CONCEPT of pre- and post-diagnostic counselling is not new. If it is delivered effectively, it can be empowering for patients and give them a sense of control. While every service may not have a clear system to support all the principles, every member of the nursing team can improve the communication skills they bring to the counselling process. Pre-diagnostic counselling begins before embarking on any assessment of patients with a potentially life-changing condition such as dementia. For my service, this means that I first clarify that patients understand why they are there. In doing this I do use frightening words like ‘dementia’ and ‘Alzheimer’s disease’. As I practise in a rural environment, I also ask questions about driving to ensure that people are aware of 10 October 2014 | Volume 26 | Number 8
the possible implications of a diagnosis of dementia. I recognise that this makes them anxious but it is, unfortunately, necessary. Patients should understand what they are being assessed for and have the right to say no or delay the assessment until they feel able to engage in the process. Offering a second appointment at a later date, with the same clinician to deliver a diagnosis, enables me to recheck decisions about whether people want a diagnosis and who they agree to sharing it with. As I am imparting a diagnosis of a terminal illness, it is important to support it with written information. I also try to give the diagnosis at the earliest but most appropriate point, after completing introductions, confirming that patients want
the information, updating myself on their situation and what they have done since I last saw them. I then move on to discussing treatment options and the way forward. There is also the opportunity for questions. There is no reason for honest and open communication to be excluded from routine assessments for any life-changing condition, whether that is dementia or any number of physical health problems. But the essence of effective pre- and post-diagnostic counselling is preparation. Patients should be fully prepared for any potential diagnosis and the reality or implications of the diagnosis. Sue Edwards is a community mental health nurse, South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust NURSING OLDER PEOPLE
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