Management framework
Congratulations! You have learnt to arrange the steps correctly! Now, let's flip the cards to learn the details of each step.
1. Explain
- Explain the diagnosis to the patient in simple term.
1. Explain
2. Education
- Educate the patient about the cause of the illness. Why did he/she get it, the common symptoms and the complication of the illness.
2. Education
3. Address ICE
- Addressing the patient's ICE will reduce his/her anxiety and dissatisfaction with the consultation.
3. Address ICE
4. Reassurance
- Appropriate reassurance should be given to the patient to reduce anxiety.
4. Reassurance
5. Non-pharmacological treatment
- Involvement of non-pharmacological treatment such as therapeutic lifestyle changes, physiotherapy and diabetic services.
5. Non-pharmacological treatment
6. Pharmacological treatment
- If necessary, prescribe the correct medication with correct dosage and duration for symptomatic relief or to cure the illness. Explain the indications and how it should be taken.
6. Pharmacological treatment
7. Prevention
- Explain to the patient how this illness can be prevented in the future. Consider to include opportunistic prevention.
7. Prevention
8. Provide health information
- Advice can be supplemented with educational pamphlets and online resources.
8. Provide health information
9. Decide on Next Step
- Patient can be discharged, followed up or admitted to the hospital depending on the severity of the disease. This should be explained early to the patient.
9. Decide on next Step
10. Safety-netting
- Patient should be informed of possible warning signs of serious illness to ensure he/she has control over the illness and knows when to seek help if the disease deteriorates.