Describe a situation experienced and explain how incorporating or not incorporating patient preferences and values impacted the outcome of their treatment plan.

I recently had a patient who was diagnosed with diabetes, and I had to decide on the best course of treatment. When discussing her options with her, she expressed that she would prefer an oral medication to manage her condition as opposed to insulin injections, despite the fact that the former may not be as effective in controlling her blood sugar levels. After further discussion we were able to come up with a plan that incorporated both of our preferences – she agreed to take a combination of both medications which could potentially provide better control than either one alone.

In this situation, incorporating the patient’s preferences and values was critical for developing a successful treatment plan. Had I disregarded her feelings about taking insulin (as is often done in healthcare settings) it is likely that I would have lost trust from my patient and created more resistance when trying to get them to adhere to their prescribed therapies. By taking into account what mattered most to them and finding an appropriate compromise, we were able to establish a greater level of understanding between us and ultimately increase their chances of achieving favorable outcomes through improved compliance with recommendations made.