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Cómo mejorar la comunicación con su médico

Hoy hablaremos sobre diferentes estilos de comunicación y cómo mejorar la comunicación con su médico o su equipo de profesionales de salud.

Hay varios estilos de comunicación. Comparemos las diferencias entre comunicación pasiva, comunicación asertiva o llena de confianza, y estilos de comunicación agresivos.

En comunicación pasiva, las personas a menudo tienen miedo de hablar, hablan en voz baja, tienden a ceder a lo que dicen los demás, y por lo general no expresan sus sentimientos o necesidades. Un estilo de comunicación pasivo puede sonar como… “Realmente no tiene importancia”, “OK, está bien”, “No pasa nada.”

Las personas asertivas suelen expresar sus deseos, hacer preguntas, y expresar sus necesidades de forma clara y directa para que otras personas — como su médico, entiendan qué es lo que quieren y necesitan.

Las personas que se comunican de forma agresiva, podrían faltarle el respeto a la otra persona y les niegan la oportunidad de expresar sus opiniones. Un estilo de comunicación agresivo podría sonar cómo “Yo tengo razón, y tú estás equivocado.”

La asertividad no es lo mismo que la agresión. La asertividad se trata de respetarse a sí mismo y expresar tus opiniones, mientras que la agresión le falta el respeto a la otra persona y le niega la oportunidad de expresar sus opiniones. La comunicación asertiva implica el contacto visual, que demuestra interés por el otro, hablar en un tono de voz nivelado y el saber cómo, cuándo, dónde y qué elige a decir.

Las afirmaciones o expresiones usando “yo”, son maneras de comunicarle a su equipo médico si se siente apurado, confundido o amenazado. Es importante que su equipo médico sepa cómo se siente. Hable asertivamente, usando la fórmula de
“Yo me siento _____ cuando ____ porque ____.” Las expresiones usando “yo” ayudan a hablar con seguridad y tener confianza en cómo nos comunicamos….. Y no culpan a nadie. Yo me siento… Yo creo que… Pienso que… Me parece… Vamos a ver dos ejemplos.

Aquí vemos dos ejemplos de comunicación asertiva usando la fórmula:
“Yo me siento _____ cuando ____ porque ____”, como una forma de expresar cómo se siente, y poder decir cuando se siente de esa manera, y por qué se siente de esa manera. Veamos el primer ejemplo: “Me siento frustrada / frustrado cuando hago una pregunta en el portal y no me responden porque no estoy segura / seguro si me debo tomar mi próxima dosis.” Otro ejemplo: “Yo me siento realmente feliz / muy contenta cuando usted toma el tiempo para responder a mis preguntas porque me voy, sabiendo claramente lo que debo hacer.” Recuerde, está bien que haga preguntas y le diga a su equipo médico lo que necesita, por ejemplo... si desea que su médico o enfermera le hable más despacio, más claro, más alto o que use un lenguaje más simple.

Ser honesto y detallado genera confianza y le permite dar información específica que puede ayudar en su atención médica. Sea más específico al decir cómo se siente, en lugar de usar descripciones generales como “Estoy bien” o “No pasa nada.” Por ejemplo... “Una cosa que es diferente...” “Me avergüenza hablar de esto, pero...” “Esto comenzó en esta fecha...” “Me sentía así...” y... “No estoy segura de esto...”

En Resumen… Para mejorar la comunicación con su médico, Sea asertivo, Hable con confianza, Sea honesto y especifico. Su médico y profesionales de la salud aprecian una comunicación sincera y detallada. Recuerde, ellos están para ayudarle.

¡Gracias!

CAREGIVER SUPPORT

Amgen By Your Side Is Here to Support Your Important Work as a Caregiver

We understand that the health of the caregiver is just as important as the health of the patient. The following resources can help ensure that you, as a caregiver, are doing as much for yourself as you are doing for others.

Caring for Caregivers
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    Today, we’re going to talk about how you can care for others while also taking care of yourself. Here’s what we mean. 

    Think about a time when a friend of yours was struggling. How did you respond in that situation? Now, think about a time when YOU were struggling. How did you respond in that situation… to yourself? There was likely a difference. We tend to be much more compassionate with our friends while being tougher on ourselves. How can we treat ourselves with that same gentleness and care? 

    In your role as a caregiver, it can be easy to forget to look after yourself as you put others needs first. The way to be a resilient caregiver is with self-compassion… treating yourself the same way you would treat a friend.

    Now, what prevents us from self-compassion is the harsh critic whispering in our head. It says things like …

    “You’ll never be able to do this” or

    “You always mess this up.”

    With self-compassion, you replace those mental judgments with thoughts a friend would comfort you with. Like …

    I see you’re doing your best.”

    “The people you care for are in good hands with you.”

    Or… “You’re a strong person for dealing with this for so long.”

    Another way to practice self-compassion is with journaling. It doesn’t have to be formal. You can even just write in your phone. However you do it, use the three parts of self-compassion to process what you’re experiencing as a caregiver. 

    1) Self-Kindness

    Write kind, understanding words of comfort to yourself:

    It’s okay. You made a mistake. But it wasn’t the end of the world.”

    2) Common Humanity

    Write how the things you’re going through are connected to the larger human experience:

    Everyone makes mistakes. It’s how we learn.”

    3) Mindfulness

    Write about how you feel (embarrassed, sad, ashamed, or frightened) in a non-judgmental way:

    I got angry, overreacted, and was embarrassed afterwards.”

    If you change the tone of your inner voice and journal regularly, self-compassion will make you more resilient and able to bounce back from life’s challenges.

    And that’s important. Because the opportunity to be a caregiver may be one of the most fulfilling things you ever do.

    But…to KEEP doing it, it’s important to be intentional about caring for yourself in the process.

Keeping Yourself Healthy While Caring for Others

As a caregiver, you already know how difficult chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) can be for patients living with the disease. However, it’s equally important to take care of yourself. Making sure that you are eating well, exercising, getting enough sleep, and attending your own doctor appointments are just a few of the healthy choices to remember. Here are some other important suggestions to consider:

woman-on-phone

  • Go for a 15-minute walk at least 3 times a week
  • Take frequent breaks during the day to relax
  • Accept support with caregiving tasks from others close to you
  • Always schedule and attend your own medical appointments
  • Find a friend or professional therapist who can listen and provide additional support

Important Safety Information

What is ACTIMMUNE® (Interferon gamma-1b) used for?

ACTIMMUNE® is part of a drug regimen used to treat Chronic Granulomatous Disease, or CGD. CGD is a genetic disorder, usually diagnosed in childhood, that affects some cells of the immune system and the body’s ability to fight infections effectively. CGD is often treated (though not cured) with antibiotics, antifungals, and ACTIMMUNE.

ACTIMMUNE is also used to slow the worsening of severe, malignant osteopetrosis (SMO). SMO is a genetic disorder that affects normal bone formation and is usually diagnosed in the first few months after birth.

When should I not take ACTIMMUNE?

Don’t use ACTIMMUNE if you are allergic to interferon-gamma, E. coli-derived products, or any ingredients contained in the product.

What warnings should I know about ACTIMMUNE?

At high doses, ACTIMMUNE can cause (flu-like) symptoms, which may worsen some pre-existing heart conditions.

ACTIMMUNE may cause decreased mental status, walking disturbances, and dizziness, particularly at very high doses. These symptoms are usually reversible within a few days upon dose reduction or discontinuation of therapy.

Bone marrow function may be suppressed with ACTIMMUNE, and decreased production of cells important to the body may occur. This effect, which can be severe, is usually reversible when the drug is discontinued or the dose is reduced.

Taking ACTIMMUNE may cause reversible changes to your liver function, particularly in patients less than 1 year old. Your doctor should monitor your liver function every 3 months, and monthly in children under 1 year.

In rare cases, ACTIMMUNE can cause severe allergic reactions and/or rash. If you experience a serious reaction to ACTIMMUNE, discontinue it immediately and contact your doctor or seek medical help.

What should I tell my healthcare provider?

Be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking.

Tell your doctor if you:

  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or plan to nurse
  • have a cardiac condition such as irregular heartbeat, heart failure, or decreased blood flow to your heart
  • have a history of seizures or other neurologic disorders
  • have, or have had, reduced bone marrow function. Your doctor will monitor these cells with blood tests at the beginning of therapy and at 3-month intervals on ACTIMMUNE therapy

What are the side effects of ACTIMMUNE?

The most common side effects with ACTIMMUNE are “flu-like” symptoms such as fever, headache, chills, muscle pain, or fatigue, which may decrease in severity as treatment continues. Bedtime administration of ACTIMMUNE may help reduce some of these symptoms. Acetaminophen may be helpful in preventing fever and headache.

What other medications might interact with ACTIMMUNE?

Some drugs may interact with ACTIMMUNE to potentially increase the risk of damage to your heart or nervous system, such as certain chemotherapy drugs. Tell your doctor about all other medications you are taking.

Avoid taking ACTIMMUNE at the same time as a vaccination.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

The risk information provided here is not comprehensive. To learn more, talk about ACTIMMUNE with your healthcare provider or pharmacist. The FDA-approved product labeling can be found at http://www.ACTIMMUNE.com or 1-866-479-6742.

Important Safety Information

What is ACTIMMUNE® (Interferon gamma-1b) used for?

ACTIMMUNE® is part of a drug regimen used to treat Chronic Granulomatous Disease, or CGD. CGD is a genetic disorder, usually diagnosed in childhood, that affects some cells of the immune system and the body’s ability to fight infections effectively. CGD is often treated (though not cured) with antibiotics, antifungals, and ACTIMMUNE.

ACTIMMUNE is also used to slow the worsening of severe, malignant osteopetrosis (SMO). SMO is a genetic disorder that affects normal bone formation and is usually diagnosed in the first few months after birth.

When should I not take ACTIMMUNE?

Don’t use ACTIMMUNE if you are allergic to interferon-gamma, E. coli-derived products, or any ingredients contained in the product.

What warnings should I know about ACTIMMUNE?

At high doses, ACTIMMUNE can cause (flu-like) symptoms, which may worsen some pre-existing heart conditions.

ACTIMMUNE may cause decreased mental status, walking disturbances, and dizziness, particularly at very high doses. These symptoms are usually reversible within a few days upon dose reduction or discontinuation of therapy.

Bone marrow function may be suppressed with ACTIMMUNE, and decreased production of cells important to the body may occur. This effect, which can be severe, is usually reversible when the drug is discontinued or the dose is reduced.

Taking ACTIMMUNE may cause reversible changes to your liver function, particularly in patients less than 1 year old. Your doctor should monitor your liver function every 3 months, and monthly in children under 1 year.

In rare cases, ACTIMMUNE can cause severe allergic reactions and/or rash. If you experience a serious reaction to ACTIMMUNE, discontinue it immediately and contact your doctor or seek medical help.

What should I tell my healthcare provider?

Be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking.

Tell your doctor if you:

  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or plan to nurse
  • have a cardiac condition such as irregular heartbeat, heart failure, or decreased blood flow to your heart
  • have a history of seizures or other neurologic disorders
  • have, or have had, reduced bone marrow function. Your doctor will monitor these cells with blood tests at the beginning of therapy and at 3-month intervals on ACTIMMUNE therapy

What are the side effects of ACTIMMUNE?

The most common side effects with ACTIMMUNE are “flu-like” symptoms such as fever, headache, chills, muscle pain, or fatigue, which may decrease in severity as treatment continues. Bedtime administration of ACTIMMUNE may help reduce some of these symptoms. Acetaminophen may be helpful in preventing fever and headache.

What other medications might interact with ACTIMMUNE?

Some drugs may interact with ACTIMMUNE to potentially increase the risk of damage to your heart or nervous system, such as certain chemotherapy drugs. Tell your doctor about all other medications you are taking.

Avoid taking ACTIMMUNE at the same time as a vaccination.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

The risk information provided here is not comprehensive. To learn more, talk about ACTIMMUNE with your healthcare provider or pharmacist. The FDA-approved product labeling can be found at http://www.ACTIMMUNE.com or 1-866-479-6742.