The Sore Throat Saga (I go to a Balint Group)
This clip is part of a two-part showcase demonstrating two different approaches to treating a patient with a sore throat. In the second approach, ‘I go to a Balint ‘Group’, we see a young doctor during a hectic surgery who, driven by his profound empathy and compassion for the patient, takes the time to delve into her background. This approach significantly impacts the patient’s treatment, underscoring the crucial role of these qualities in patient care.
I've got a really bad sore throat.
When Mrs Sheppard visits this doctor, he demonstrates a profound understanding of her condition and seems to have read her notes before the start of the consultation rather than during it. So, the doctor welcomes his patient in and asks what the problem is. Mrs Sheppard tells him, “I’ve got a really bad sore throat.” The doctor, showing his empathy, wonders how long she has had this, to which Mrs Sheppard tells him five days.
Next, the doctor meticulously gathers information about his patient’s symptoms. Mrs Sheppard mentions that her glands are swollen, holds her neck to show the location, and tells the doctor, “It hurts. It’s very painful to swallow.” She finds it challenging to have a drink. Unlike the other version, where the doctor would now be examining her, this doctor decides to look at his notes and paperwork before mentioning that he noticed she had similar symptoms about four weeks ago.
"I have tried giving up!"
In response, Mrs Sheppard believes it has fully cleared up. The doctor is instead concerned by how frequently things happen and says, “Earlier this year, you’ve had two or three!” and can’t believe how many times they have occurred in one year. Once again, this doctor asks Mrs Sheppard, ‘If she smokes?’ Sheppard says, ‘Yes.’ “Ah! Well, there it hangs a bit of a tale.” The doctor tells his patient, now seems unsurprised by the situation, putting it down to Mrs Sheppards smoking habit, but subsequently asks his patient, “You haven’t asked if your frequent sore throats might be linked up to that?” to which Mrs Sheppard replies, “I have tried giving up!”. The doctor, unsure, says, “Have You?” and gets a little dig in towards his patient. Unfortunately, she believes giving up smoking to be impossible and finds it very difficult; the doctor cuts in to also mention, ‘It’s not an easy thing to do.,’ reassuring his patient but also trying to understand why he asks her what she finds most difficult about giving up smoking and why.
Well, do you have time for me?
The patient, Mrs Sheppard, starts by discussing problems at home, mentioning her husband and saying, “I won’t go into details.” Suddenly, Mrs Sheppard looks at her watch and says people have been waiting a long time in the waiting room. Does he have time for her to tell him? “We have plenty of time if you want to talk,” the doctor reassures Mrs Sheppard, who looks relieved and clears her throat. Sounding upset, Mrs Sheppard mentions that her husband is never around at home: “I just got to smoke. I mean, it’s an outlet for me.” It’s just awful, so awful, she tells the doctor. He mentions that she seems very ‘Tense’, and his patient agrees and tells him she is. “I couldn’t possibly give up smoking… I mean, it’s smoking that keeps me sane.” She tells the doctor and then mentions that when her husband is home, all they ever do is argue all the time.
The doctor’s surprised to hear about her husband’s anger and asks why he is like that. Mrs Sheppard explains that, regardless of what she communicates to her husband, he consistently misinterprets her intentions and is unwilling to agree with her on things. The doctor, listens carefully to Mrs Sheppard’s explanation, acknowledging the complexity of her situation.
In summary, the doctor’s approach is distinct because, instead of simply diagnosing and prescribing medication, the doctor takes the time to delve deeper into the root cause of the problem. By understanding where and why the issue occurs, the doctor aims to address it at it’s source rather than just treating the symptoms. Both doctors effectively manage things, but one provides more insight into the reasons before giving out medical drugs.
The educational material effectively explores the essential aspects of time and resource management in the medical field. It provides insights into doctors’ decision-making processes, such as the doctor’s choice to delve into the patient’s background during a hectic surgery to determine their actions and prioritise tasks. When made with empathy and compassion, these decisions enhance patient care and optimize the doctor’s time management skills, leading to more effective and efficient treatments.