Using conversational skills to ask open-ended questions, allowing the patient time to reflect, and discussing how a life event may be affecting their health is critical as a primary modality of treating the patient’s symptoms and the distress caused by those symptoms. One of my favorite studies showed that patient-perceived provider empathy is associated with reduced cold severity and duration, with reduction in objective inflammatory markers (Patient Educ Couns. 2011;85:390-397). Abdominal breathing can improve gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms (Am J Gastroenterol. 2012;107:372- 378), time in nature can improve sleep (Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18:12426), and meditation can reduce susceptibility to colds (PLoS ONE. 2018;13:e0197778). All are easy, cost-effective strategies to help patients reduce stress and improve their health.
Explore This Issue
October 2022Pillar 5: Emotional and Mental Health
It’s wise to consider the emotional distress a new symptom can elicit, and the value in the relief of that distress. Patients with tinnitus and globus will often admit they just want to make sure it isn’t “something terrible.” Interestingly, a recent study looked at SinoNasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) emotional and sleep domain scores and found sensitivities that were well over 80% for anxiety and depression screening (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2022;166:985-992).
This anxiety can affect patient outcomes post-treatment. Patients with a history of anxiety or depression may experience worse outcomes after surgery, for example (Ann Surgery. 2021;1:e049). Keeping emotional health in view expands our opportunities to improve our patients’ well-being. Fostering connections by setting up a small group of cancer survivors who volunteer as peer mentors, for example, is rewarding for the patient, the mentor, and you as their provider.
Pillar 6: Avoidance of Risky Substance Use
Most physicians mention quitting when patients report that they smoke, maybe even going on to explain the risk of cancer, but it’s worth acknowledging that tobacco dependence is a chronic illness and most people who are addicted will go through several attempts to quit before they find success, if they don’t give up on getting free of the addiction.
Instead, help motivate patients by teaching them that, according to the American Lung Association, after abstinence from smoking, their blood pressure will improve in 20 minutes, their breathing will improve in two months, and their risk of heart disease will be cut in half after one year. Becoming well versed on the methods of quitting is also useful for patients who don’t have a primary care doctor.