Mission Mater's Magazine - Flipbook - Page 13
approach to these patients that respects their autonomy
and is delivered with compassion.
It is important to recognise an alcohol use disorder in the
patient in front of you and to start treatment. This is not
actually as hard as it might initially seem. The recognition
component is to take a proper alcohol consumption
history and accept that the first answer may not be
entirely honest. Again, a compassionate approach will be
more likely to generate a truthful response to what can be
difficult questions for some.
With regard to treatment for alcohol use disorders there
are three broad branches of care which we can offer. The
first is support, the second is pharmacotherapy with
medications that reduce craving and the third is formal
psychological counselling. The latter two need specific
dedicated skills but, fortunately, the most important of
the three is simple support. Even better news is that this
can be delivered by not just medical staff and nursing staff
but anyone that is prepared to engage with the patient and
give them advice. I think this is the single greatest
contribution that anyone in the hospital could provide for
any patient with an alcohol use disorder.
Every little helps: If you can enhance motivation to
change harmful behaviours, you may have an impact for
the remainder of your patient's life
If you can enhance motivation to change harmful
behaviours you may have an impact not just at that
moment but for the remainder of that patient's life.
Small gestures deliveredwith kindness can have a
truly endless impact.
It is important, coming up to Christmas, to find time
to have a break and relax with family and friends. I
know that plenty of alcohol will be enjoyed at home or
out at meals or parties but please keep an eye out for
those that are running into problems, in the hospital
or elsewhere. When managing any patients under
your care try to recognise if there is an alcohol use
disorder, engage with the patient around the issue in
as empathetic way as possible and remember to treat
everyone as you would like to be treated yourself.
No wining: Everyone celebrates in different ways, but, for
many, there will be a significant increase in alcohol
consumption around this time
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