Blog 5: Stigma and Health-Related Identity Threats

Blog 5 Topic

In Module 9 we learn a

bout Stigma and Identity-threats.

What is potentially most telling is that there are messages intended to help or keep others safe that instead can be alienating or marginalizing. Again, know/understand your audiences right?

Find PLE section 9.3.1 "Addressing Stigma." Pulling from at least 2 previous modules, bring one of the recommendations for addressing stigma to life. Your recommendation should include your estimation of what the recommendation means, along with how to enact it (so essentially two paragraphs). Provide parenthetical citations (like this; Author, year; or Module #) to highlight what concepts you are pulling from previous modules to support your selection.

Ideally we should be able to clearly see which recommendation you selected at the top of your post, with your two paragraphs clearly indicated. Have fun!

Blog 5

The most important recommendation when involving illness and stigma is to see the person, not the illness. This revolves around Patient-Centered Care (Module 7). This recommendation focuses on making efforts to understand and provide validation for the patient’s perspective. This gives acceptance to his or her condition, without disesteeming them as a human-being. The purpose of this proposition is to support the needs and values of the patient in regards to their treatment options, increasing their patient-participation, while giving him or her decision making capabilities to the extent they desire. By concentrating on the person and not their illness, the patient has a much better ability to foster relationships characterized by trust and commitment without scrutiny to their associated stigma.

Now, to enact the estimation of the recommendation. I would suggest encouraging Positive Relational Communication with the patient (Module 8). This will present them with social support minus the apprehension of the stigma accompanied with their illness. This celebratory support offers a sense of gratitude for the patient and assists them with feeling more appreciative of life in face of the negativity that surrounds their ill-being. This may promote self-disclosure of the patient to share essential information with doctors and loved ones to ensure the prosperity of their health. Effectively enacting this recommendation is with the intention of helping or keeping patients safe that instead can be alienated or marginalized by societal stigmas.

References:

COMM 495 Module 7 – Patient Provider

COMM 495 Module 8 – Illness and Relationships

COMM 495 Module 9 – Stigma and Health-Related Identity Threats