![Image by Sivani Bandaru](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_7d0eee05def04c4ea06f6514d437ead5~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_332,h_591,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/nsplsh_7d0eee05def04c4ea06f6514d437ead5~mv2.jpg)
Loss of Control-Video highlights:
Loss of control can:
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Be pervasive throughout an illness.
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Cause patients to experience feelings of helplessness.
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Affect patients' management of their medical needs.
Health social workers can:
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Identity with patients ways to reestablish control in their lives.
Loss of Control
Loss of Control can become intensified by
Feelings of Helplessness
Patients may feel ill-prepared to manage the medications, medical appointments, diet, and physical activity changes they are experiencing.
![Image by Mary Brennan](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_fcc0445164da49dba6ac4d4be1c994c4~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_1746,w_4805,h_3715/fill/w_272,h_211,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Image%20by%20Mary%20Brennan.jpg)
Health social workers look for:
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Patient gaps in managing their medical care.
The patient's gaps could be due to:
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Limited health literacy.
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Difficulty planning.
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Difficulty understanding how to navigate the medical systems.
Examples of ways to aid are:
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Creating Medication Charts.
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Appointment Calendars.
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Meal Planning.
![Image by Claire Kelly](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_57b4ddb1374e4479976ea3674dc254a0~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_420,y_0,w_5176,h_4016/fill/w_312,h_244,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Image%20by%20Claire%20Kelly.jpg)
![sasha-freemind-Pv5WeEyxMWU-unsplash.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/33e0c3_a04150d31c5641c2bdfe293e23dbb89d~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_197,y_0,w_2470,h_1910/fill/w_275,h_213,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/sasha-freemind-Pv5WeEyxMWU-unsplash.jpg)
![Image by K. Mitch Hodge](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_4971536147397a76326530~mv2_d_4726_3545_s_4_2.jpg/v1/crop/x_79,y_0,w_4568,h_3545/fill/w_312,h_244,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Image%20by%20K_%20Mitch%20Hodge.jpg)
Extended Hospitalizations
With specific diagnoses, patients may stay in the hospital for an extended period and/or have frequent hospitalizations. These hospitalizations often disrupts the patient's life.
The goal with our patients is
to decrease the disruptions in their lives.
Ways to decrease disruptions to a patient's life are:
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Working on discharge planning needs.
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Planned follow-up appointments.
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Collaborate with outside agencies such as work or school.
![Image by Alec Douglas](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_6975433966767136334a38~mv2_d_2336_3504_s_2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_849,w_2336,h_1806/fill/w_307,h_237,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Image%20by%20Alec%20Douglas.jpg)
![Image by Johannes Plenio](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_687672704f6d754d724149~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.jpg/v1/crop/x_418,y_0,w_5164,h_4000/fill/w_318,h_246,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Image%20by%20Johannes%20Plenio.jpg)
Uncertainty of Prognosis
Certain diseases do not have a cure, so patients' health will continue to decline. The unpredictable nature of such an illness can create a heightened sense of anxiety.
The health social workers role is to aid patients to develop anxiety coping skills.
Some examples of techniques we can use with patients are:
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Guided meditation techniques.
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Distress tolerance techniques.
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Stress reduction Activities - art, music, physical outings or yoga activities.
![Image by Filip Zrnzević](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_5053466649377662533363~mv2_d_3840_5760_s_4_2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_1396,w_3840,h_2968/fill/w_317,h_245,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Image%20by%20Filip%20Zrnzevi%C4%87.jpg)
Poor Communication
Communication breakdowns between patients and their doctors can be caused by:
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Conflicting information.
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Rushed conversations.
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Different communication styles.
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Lack of consideration of cultural values (Anderson et al., 2008; Downar et al., 2020).
Health social workers can:
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Identify the gaps in health literacy.
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Identify lack of cultural considerations by the medical providers.
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Address language barriers.
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Advocate for culturally appropriate interventions.
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Help patients create interventions such as:
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A list of questions to ask providers.
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Advocate for providers to clarify conflicting information.
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Request family meetings with the providers and consultants.
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