Free Health Dissertations - (ackerman Et Al. 1995) People With Diabetes Mellitus Are Far More Likely To
(Ackerman et al. 1995)
People with Diabetes Mellitus are far more likely to attribute their lack of energy or enjoyment to their diabetes rather than consider that it may be due to depression and the healthcare professionals should be both aware of this and prepared to make positive and tactful enquiries if they suspect that there is a problem. (Gayle Beck J. 1995)
The National Service Framework also makes a very valid point and that is that the management of these conditions (broadly) is the same whether or not diabetes is present. It follows that healthcare professional should endeavour to ensure that patients with Diabetes Mellitus should receive equitable access to the services that they need. They quote the example of erectile dysfunction to the extent that men with the problem generally require multidisciplinary assessment to gain a correct diagnosis whether it is neuropathy, cardiovascular disease or purely psychological in origin. The treatment plan should be formulated on the basis that the problem is the erectile dysfunction. The fact that they have Diabetes Mellitus is merely a complicating factor.
In conjunction with the initiatives of the National Service Frameworks, NICE has also produced guidelines for the specific treatment and investigation of both Type I and Type II diabetes mellitus (2003) which outlined the standards that were to be expected, on a National scale.
There is rarely enough provision for treatment of sexual dysfunction within the NHS (Gregoire 1999) and there is clearly a significant demand considering the figures that we have quoted above
An overview of current practice with up to date research and specialist professional opinion linked to relevant theory.
Some of the most recent papers on the subject have dealt with the issues of patient empowerment and education which are now recognised to be a major tool in the establishment of good diabetic control. Furnell (et al.2004) wrote a particularly illuminating paper on the issue. In terms of the definitive need for change they write:
A gap currently exists between the promise and the reality of diabetes care. Practical interventions that facilitate collaborative relationships and foster patient-centred practices are the key to closing this gap.
The degree to which change is necessary in this respect is a reflection of the change in attitude and management that is necessary to give the patients empowerment and education as this rather flies in the face of old-fashioned management. Collaborative relationships between healthcare professional and patient are the current trend and there is every merit in trying to encourage them. (Dawes RM et al. 1974).
Clearly, with the current trend towards evidence-based medicine, we should look for evidence which would suggest that such collaborative models are more likely to work than perhaps the old didactic approach.
A paper by Norris (et al. 2001) is very helpful in this respect.
Dissertations - Free Health Dissertations
