Patient Empowerment Part 2: Self Awareness to Pinpoint the Source of Angst
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For Part 2 of my Patient Empowerment series, let’s discuss how patients can pinpoint the source of unease or angst in seeking care and/or communicating with healthcare providers. (For an overview of this series, see Part 1). This is not an issue for everyone, but for many of you, it is actually the first barrier to seeking care. Unfortunately, for many patients, especially those from historically marginalized communities, visiting a doctor can be a daunting or even traumatic experience, punctuated with either racism, sexism, ableism, classism, homophobia, or a horrible combination of the above. While it is crucial for healthcare professionals to treat every patient with dignity, this is not always the case . As we still deal with the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic and provider burnout, this issue is becoming even more challenging.
That said, as a patient, identifying the underlying cause for your angst is key to feeling more empowered. When you look back at your experiences in the healthcare environment, how did those experiences make you feel? How did you react? Even more importantly, how did you want to be cared for at that moment? And, what do you feel could have been done better? If recalling past moments is triggering for you, give yourself grace and take a moment to reflect on what you want your future to look like - healthy mind, healthy body, healthy soul. If you have an anxiety-related mental health diagnosis or these questions are causing you a great amount of distress, then it is better to engage in this reflection with a mental health professional, rather than trying on your own.
However, if this exercise is not causing great distress, then this can be a first step to visualizing what you want your care to look like. Again, seeking out the ideal provider or clinic may be a challenge right now, but overall, seeking clinics that cater to specific populations (e.g. women’s clinic, men’s clinic, Indigenous-focused, Black-focused, immigrant health) tend to be more versed in trauma-informed care and/or more patient-centred (1). Community Health Centres are a great example of this type of support! CHCs offer high-quality primary care through a collaborative team approach. Social workers, family physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, dieticians, chiropodists, dental hygienists, therapists and other clinicians provide services in a team environment, based on patient needs (2).
Furthermore, some clinics and hospitals have Patient Advocates that guide and support patients and their families through the healthcare system to ensure their needs are met. Inquire in advance or check online about what is provided to you so you do not feel isolated trying to navigate the healthcare environment. If no such role exists, reach out to your friends or family for healthcare centres, hospitals or services that they found safe. Another option is to reach out to third-party organizations that are dedicated to breaking down barriers and focusing on intersectionality, like the Ase Community Foundation for Black Canadians with Disabilities or Rainbow Health Ontario (3, 4).
Pinpointing how your experiences have affected you is the first step to overcoming unease in the healthcare environment. Seek support in the clinic and in the community. In Part 3 we will examine how patients can practice self-advocacy when navigating the medical space.
Find a community health centre near you (note not all provinces/territories have CHCs):
Ontario: Alliance for Healthier Communities: https://www.allianceon.org/find-a-centre or https://www.ontario.ca/page/community-health-centres
Quebec (CLSC): https://sante.gouv.qc.ca/en/repertoire-ressources/clsc/
Alberta: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/info/Page17791.aspx
Manitoba: https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/protection/docs/facilities.pdf
Saskatchewan: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/health/accessing-health-care-services/health-care-facilities
Nova Scotia: https://nsachc.org/our-members/
New Brunswick: https://horizonnb.ca/services/community-health-care/
Newfoundland and Labrador: https://www.gov.nl.ca/hcs/findhealthservices/in-your-community/
Prince Edward Island: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/health-pei/health-centres-offer-primary-care
British Columbia: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/primary-care/service-type/community-health-centres
Dr. Onye Nnorom is a distinguished physician, advocate, public speaker and leader in the field of public health and equity. She is a family doctor and public health and preventive medicine specialist and Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. Dr. Nnorom ("Dr. O.") is also the creator of Healthcaring Differently - a social media movement to inspire diverse students to pursue and explore careers in healthcare!
Special thanks to health sciences student Bryanna Oriuwa, the Digital Community Outreach Lead for Healthcaring Differently , for her contributions to this article series!
Sources:
Morra C, Nguyen K, Sieracki R, Pavlic A, Barry C. Trauma-informed care training in trauma and emergency medicine: A review of the existing curricula. West J Emerg Med. 2024;25(3):423–430. doi:10.5811/westjem.18394.
Note: The views expressed in this article are those of Dr. Onye Nnorom. Her views do not represent any health organization, hospital or agency.