Evidence suggests that patients do better when their expectations about specific benefits of nursing care are discussed and met. Design a “comfort contract” whereby patients or their surrogates designate an expected level of postsurgical overall comfort, and also where they can specify chronic discomforts and interventions that they use at home for relief. More than 450 words
Designing a “comfort contract” for patients or their surrogates that allows them to designate an expected level of postsurgical overall comfort, as well as chronic discomforts and interventions for relief at home, can be an effective approach to improving patient outcomes. This contract can serve as a tool for enhancing communication between patients and healthcare professionals, promoting patient-centered care, and ensuring that patient expectations are discussed and met.
The concept of a comfort contract stems from the understanding that addressing patient expectations and involving them in their own care can have a significant impact on their overall experience and outcomes. Research has shown that patients who have their expectations met tend to report higher levels of satisfaction, better emotional well-being, and improved functional outcomes (Barr et al., 2016). By providing a structured mechanism for patients to express their comfort expectations and outline their individualized interventions for relief, a comfort contract can serve as an important framework for promoting patient involvement and patient-centered care.
The comfort contract should be initiated prior to surgery or as early as possible in the healthcare journey. It can be integrated into the existing informed consent process or introduced as a separate document during pre-operative consultations. The contract should be designed in a clear and user-friendly manner, ensuring that patients or their surrogates can easily understand and complete it.
In the comfort contract, patients can designate their desired level of overall comfort following surgery. This can be done using a range or scale that allows patients to express their expectations quantitatively. For instance, patients can rate their desired level of pain or discomfort on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 representing no pain or discomfort and 10 representing the worst pain or discomfort imaginable. This quantitative expression of expectations can help healthcare professionals in assessing and managing patient discomfort more effectively.
Additionally, the comfort contract should provide space for patients to specify any chronic discomforts they experience and the interventions they use for relief at home. Chronic discomforts can include conditions like arthritis, back pain, or migraines, which may not be directly related to the surgical procedure but can still impact the overall comfort and recovery of the patient. By allowing patients to list these chronic discomforts and their preferred interventions, healthcare professionals can gain a comprehensive understanding of the patient’s unique needs and preferences.
The contract should also include a section for healthcare professionals to acknowledge the patient’s comfort expectations, chronic discomforts, and listed interventions. This acknowledgment signifies that the healthcare team has discussed and understood the patient’s needs, helping to establish a shared understanding and agreement between the patient and healthcare provider. The contract should be signed by both parties, indicating their commitment to working collaboratively towards meeting the patient’s comfort-related goals.
To ensure the effectiveness of the comfort contract, it is crucial to integrate it into the overall care plan and communicate its contents to the entire healthcare team involved in the patient’s care, including nurses, physicians, and other allied healthcare professionals. The comfort contract can serve as a reference point for healthcare professionals, reminding them of the patient’s comfort expectations and interventions.
In conclusion, designing a comfort contract that allows patients or their surrogates to designate an expected level of postsurgical overall comfort, as well as chronic discomforts and interventions for relief at home, can be a valuable tool in promoting patient-centered care and enhancing patient outcomes. By addressing patient expectations and involving them in their own care, the comfort contract can improve patient satisfaction and well-being. However, further research and evaluation are needed to assess the impact of the comfort contract on patient outcomes and to refine its design and implementation.