Adult Coping and Care Adherence
Adaptive coping
Mature defense mechanisms are adaptive responses that promote effective stress management and healthy functioning. The allowed source identifies sublimation, altruism, humor, anticipation, and suppression as constructive ways to handle internal or external challenges.
Anticipation means experiencing emotional reactions in advance, considering consequences, and preparing realistic responses or solutions. It can support coping when illness or a major life change is foreseeable rather than denying the stressor.
Suppression is the conscious choice to set aside a distressing thought temporarily so it can be confronted at an appropriate time. It differs from repression, in which unwanted material is removed unconsciously.
Adherence partnership
The physician–patient relationship is a partnership based on trust. To foster adherence, the clinician should attend to information amount and complexity, note the patient’s emotional state, and explain why a particular treatment is recommended.
Adherence improves when the health threat and treatment effectiveness are explained, instructions are provided orally and in writing, follow-up is arranged, and the patient is not overloaded with a long list of tasks.
Repairing nonadherence
When adherence fails, do not blame or abandon the patient. Check for dissatisfaction, misunderstood instructions, family interference, inability to pay, or another source of difficulty, then work with the patient to remedy the barrier.
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