Psychology in Respiratory Therapy
Psychology in Respiratory Therapy
When I decided I wanted to be a respiratory therapist, I never imagined that I would be dealing with any psychological aspects. As I have learned more about the respiratory system and the patients that I will treat, I can see that I will deal with some psychological factors quite often. In respiratory therapy there are psychological factors that can affect a person’s ability to breath and their quality of breathing.
A range of emotional factors including fear, stress, anxiety, and pain can affect a person’s ability to breathe correctly and efficiently. The healthcare environment involves a considerable amount of stress and anxiety. Patients often demonstrate fear for their own well- being or that of their family members. The stress of upcoming surgeries or the news of a chronic illness will often affect patients. “In a study of patients diagnosed…[t]he most frequent responses were shock (54%), fright (46%), acceptance (40%), sadness (24%), and “not worried” (15%)” ("Enhancing physician-patient communication," 2012). The percentages just listed can ultimately lead to a high percentage of patients that may experience trouble breathing in response to the delivery of unfavorable news from their doctors. With my knowledge of psychology I can help to remove some of the fear and anxiety of some of my patients. For example, a patient who has just been diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) may be very upset and frightened that their quality of life will be diminished. I can however help the patient cope by expressing the positive results that can come from pulmonary rehabilitation. I can focus the patient on overcoming the obstacles that lay ahead, instead of focusing on the negatives, which may lead to depression and/or other medical complications.
Not only will I deal with patients who have received unfavorable news, but I will also have to understand how each individual patient will understand or
When I decided I wanted to be a respiratory therapist, I never imagined that I would be dealing with any psychological aspects. As I have learned more about the respiratory system and the patients that I will treat, I can see that I will deal with some psychological factors quite often. In respiratory therapy there are psychological factors that can affect a person’s ability to breath and their quality of breathing.
A range of emotional factors including fear, stress, anxiety, and pain can affect a person’s ability to breathe correctly and efficiently. The healthcare environment involves a considerable amount of stress and anxiety. Patients often demonstrate fear for their own well- being or that of their family members. The stress of upcoming surgeries or the news of a chronic illness will often affect patients. “In a study of patients diagnosed…[t]he most frequent responses were shock (54%), fright (46%), acceptance (40%), sadness (24%), and “not worried” (15%)” ("Enhancing physician-patient communication," 2012). The percentages just listed can ultimately lead to a high percentage of patients that may experience trouble breathing in response to the delivery of unfavorable news from their doctors. With my knowledge of psychology I can help to remove some of the fear and anxiety of some of my patients. For example, a patient who has just been diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) may be very upset and frightened that their quality of life will be diminished. I can however help the patient cope by expressing the positive results that can come from pulmonary rehabilitation. I can focus the patient on overcoming the obstacles that lay ahead, instead of focusing on the negatives, which may lead to depression and/or other medical complications.
Not only will I deal with patients who have received unfavorable news, but I will also have to understand how each individual patient will understand or
References: Person, A., & Finch, L. (2009). Bedside manner: Concept analysis and impact on advanced nursing practice. American Society of Hematology, 10. Retrieved from website: http://asheducationbook.hematologylibrary.org/content/2002/1/464.full Hope, J. (2011). Good bedside manners help patients get better faster… and saves hospitals money as well. Associated Newspaper Ltd. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1344454/Good-bedside-manners-help- patients-better-faster--saves-hospitals-money-well.html