Pillow Method in Diabetes Diagnosis - Essay Example

? Pillow method in diabetes diagnosis Pillow method is a decision making tool that consists of four basic sides of argument, dubbed positions. This method was first used in Japanese school to improve or identify some merit or importance in various positions. This method is used to solve problems by viewing all possible sides or alternatives. The final decision is made once all the sides have been accessed and the best ascertained. This work tends to ascertain the role of pillow method in solving various health problems. It revolves around diabetes as the health problem. Diabetes is a health condition associated with insufficient insulin level to control body sugar (Levy, 2004). The four positions in pillow method are distinguished by either numbers or directions, like north, south, east and west. Position 1: I am right, you are wrong This is the first point of view that comes to individual whenever a problem crops up. Ii is associated with individual faith and thoughts and need some facts to be proven otherwise. This position is associated with some past events hence the subject requires little or no research. One may suspect to be suffering from diabetes due to his/her chronic condition or previous test results. He/she may opt not to seek further tests but instead walk to the nearest chemists and purchase some relevant drugs. This position is associated with several advantages and disadvantages. The positive sides are that it saves the patient extra costs meant for testing among other diagnosis (Watkins,2003). It calls for prompt treatment since the patient must not have to waste time during tests among other primary treatment. However, patients who opt to make decisions on this position may be exposed to some kind of risks. A patient may not know the level of his/her diabetes hence purchase the wrong drugs. Taking wrong drugs is not only expensive but also risky as far as health is concerned. It also disadvantages the laboratory departments since patients opt to seek drugs without prior test, and this means reduced generation in the testing departments. This position may also imply when a patient undergoes diabetes test but decline to accept the results. This may happen in a situation where the result reads positive yet the patient has never shown sign of the disease. He/she may opt for some subsequent tests to verify the findings. Positions 2: You are right, I am wrong. This position is associated with acknowledging or appreciating the views or opinions of the second party. This may result after a doctor or any relevant medical professional has carried some diabetes tests using a patients’ blood sample. A patient may be from a family where all senior members are diabetes. He/she will not be shocked but accept the fate once he/she is found diabetes. This position has got some advantages, for instance, it saves time and treatment resources. The patient may opt to start immediate treatment and avoid further complications. Sugar levels can be easily controlled once the condition is detected in good time. This position may also compel the rest of family members who had never undergone diabetes tests to do so. It is even cheaper when a single doctor or health institutions diagnoses diabetic family members. However, the position has some disadvantages; for instance, it compels the patient to lose faith on his/her thoughts. He is made to believe he has diabetes without further verifications. Con doctors and other medical professionals may use this position to con some patients. Position 3: We are both right and both wrong This position has a broader view compared to the first two. It implies if the patient’s view (primary view) has some similarities with that of the medical professional (secondary view). A patient may suspect to be diabetic hence seek some tests. The tests may turn to be positive. In this case, the patients, thoughts or imaginations are verified by the medical tests. In this case, ‘we are both right’ scenario applies. Diabetes is a chronic disease whose cure is very completed. It takes a patient several years before he/ she is completely healed. However, this position comes with some challenges when used in decision making. Both the patient and the medical professional may be on the same view, but a wrong one. Two wrongs do not make a right. A time, a third party may be required to verify such primary and secondary thoughts (Nutt, 2010). Some laboratory technicians or analysts may be outsourced or consulted to help in making the final decision. Position 4: The issue is not as important as it seems. This position applies when the subject of discussion is not that important. A patient may be suffering from much serious complications like cancer among others. In process of his/ her diagnosis, the doctor may realize his patients’ blood sugar is not with recommended levels. The patient may be advised to undergo diabetes test. This is a tricky situation since; the patient already suffers from cancer. This is even much dreadful than diabetes. He may opt to overlook the diabetes aspect and spend more on cancer treatment. Research indicates that majority of cancers patients die of subsidiary ailments like diabetes and fever among others. Modern health institutions are complete, meaning both main disease and subsidiary ailments are dealt with. A Patient can be both diagnosed of cancer for instance and some diseases or conditions that comes with it. This position may lead to misleading decision makings if not well managed. Position 5: The truth is all perspectives This position implies that both the four positions could have some facts as far as the problem subject is concerned. It stands as the middle ground in this tool of decision making. It requires that all the sides or positions be considered before the final decision is made. Research indicates that this is the best the position since the results is more refined. However, this position is not ideal for making decisions with regard to health issues. Reviewing all the positions may be time consuming. A patient may be diagnosed when his/her condition has worsened. For instance, a diabetic patient requires prompt treatment so that the blood sugar levels are controlled at early stages. This reduces admission periods and the cost of treatment in general. Furthermore, early treatment would limit chances of subsidiary ailments like fever among others. This position also requires diversity in the medical practitioners. A certain health facility or institution may be compelled to outsource or consult several medical professionals to assist in reviewing the four positions discussed above. This is expensive and time consuming (Connolly, 2002). To conclude, all the five positions play an important role in decision making. It is worth noting that not all could be applicable at ago. Some patients and doctors opt to settle for the first two or three to save on time and treatment costs. Decision making also depends prior interactions between the patient and his/her medical professionals. A patient who is a chronic treatment program may not have to be re-tested before he/she is diagnosed. References Connolly, T. (2002). Judgement and decision making. New York: Cambridge University press. Levy, D. (2004). Practical diabetes care. USA: Willey & sons. Nutt, P. C. (2010). Handbook on decision making. USA: John Willey & Sons. Watkins, P. J. (2003). Diabetes and its management. USA: Willey. Read More