Real-Life Communication -- Solution
Here's what you could tell your patient:
1.
What is Crohn's disease?
Crohn's disease is a chronic
disease that causes ulcers in the intestines.
2. What causes Crohn's
disease?
The cause is unknown, but some scientists think it might
be caused by infection by bacteria. The disease seems to be related to a person's
body not responding properly to food and bacteria.
Normally, a person's
body doesn't react to these things, but if a person has this disease,
their body does react, causing inflammation, bowel injury and ulcerations.
3.
What are the symptoms of Crohn's disease?
Some symptoms are
right-sided abdominal pain, diarrhea and irritations in the anal area. If
your symptoms are mild or the disease is in remission, you might not need
treatment.
4. What are the treatment options for Crohn's disease?
Medications
can help with symptoms, and can suppress the immune system. Reducing the amount
of fiber in your diet and taking supplements can also help.
Gastroenterologists
are always talking with patients. Because patients are often nervous, it's
important to communicate clearly and in a relaxed, understanding manner.
"You
have to communicate what the problem is very effectively, because there's
always a high level of anxiety," says Dr. Geoff Withers. He is a pediatric
physician subspecializing in gastroenterology.
Some gastroenterologists,
such as Withers, deal a lot with children. For them, communication skills
are especially important.
"In pediatrics, communication is very important
because you've got to communicate to the parents, and parents are probably
much more interested in their child's health than they are in their own,"
Withers says.
"You also have to communicate with the children, which
is always interesting, especially with teenagers, to try and get the messages
across."