Physicians have applied multiple theories in treatment processes to improve the well-being of the community. Researchers have also devised multiple health frameworks influencing the diagnosis of symptoms and the employment of specific assessment tools to solve health issues among different populations. Applying such theories promotes positive health results, and researchers publish evidence to guide future practitioners about holistic therapeutic interventions. Using the Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms (TOUS) as a guide while selecting an assessment tool would help highlight many vital clinical signs, categorize various situational, psychological, and physiological factors, and examine the social, physical, and cognitive performance of symptoms among patients.
Physicians measure vital symptoms and signs among living organisms to establish the state of their essential physiological functions. The process is also the first critical step of clinical evaluation as it helps clinicians identify the degree of health imbalance among patients. Typical signs include respiratory and pulse rates, temperature, and blood pressure (Sapra et al., 2021). The assessment outcomes of such symptoms enhance the realization and interpretation of pathological and physiologic processes. In addition, evaluating vital signs assist physicians in determining the urgency of presentations among patients. The degree of critical symptoms increases the ability of clinicians to predict and assess readmission frequencies, department visits, emergency returns, and patients’ use of resources in healthcare settings (Sapra et al., 2021). Hence, the assessment outcomes of patient symptoms heighten the accuracy of prescriptions in treatment procedures.
The effective evaluation of patient symptoms enhances disease management and the provision of high-quality services. Such objectives trigger the need for integrating various assessment tools to increase the accuracy of diagnosis among patients. For example, health professionals have adopted the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) to examine and manage symptoms in palliative care (Brooks et al., 2020). The tool helps cancer patients self-report the burden and intensity of their clinical symptoms and signs. Health experts have devised different versions of ESAS, assessing 11, 10, and 9 symptoms within 24 hours (Brooks et al., 2020). However, the tools evaluate common signs, including depression, overall well-being, pain, anxiety, appetite, tiredness, drowsiness, and nausea. ESAS also highlights essential clinical information, such as unmet patient needs and symptom-based severity (Hui & Bruera, 2017). The consistent application of the tool in palliative care has improved the effectiveness of treatment procedures and patient survival. Eventually, assessment tools promote the measurement of vital symptoms, increasing clinicians’ capacity to manage diseases.
Measuring common symptoms assist physicians in interpreting the changes in pathological and physiologic processes among patients. Deploying assessment tools in the evaluation processes fosters disease management and the establishment of symptom severity in the treatment process. Nonetheless, clinicians can utilize TOUS to guide studies concerning heart failure, Parkinson’s disease, chronic pulmonary infections, and cancer (Silva-Rodrigues et al., 2019). The theory also provides a comprehensive and structured way of interpreting symptoms (Blakeman, 2019). In addition, the framework establishes the most significant symptom experiences and aspects guiding nursing practice and research (Lenz, 2018). TOUS relates significantly to three primary parts, including performance outcomes, symptoms, and influencing factors. Hence, I would select an assessment tool integrating the three components to intensify the evaluation of symptoms among individuals. For instance, I would adopt a tool highlighting many vital signs compared to others showcasing one or two symptoms. In addition, I would deploy an assessment tool categorizing various situational, psychological, and physiological factors to promote disease management. Finally, I would employ a tool examining the social, physical, and cognitive performance of symptoms among patients. Although TOUS hardly includes explicit interventions, its guidelines would elevate my ability to interpret relationships between multiple symptoms and signs.
TOUS guidelines assist physicians in identifying the most practical assessment tools for diagnosing symptoms among patients. Individuals may showcase many clinical signs based on the nature and type of infections. Hence, health professionals deploy assessment tools, such as ESAS, to enhance their disease management abilities and improve the well-being of patients. The complex nature of symptoms and infections may adversely impact the selection of the most appropriate tools. However, performance outcomes, symptoms, and influencing factors of TOUS extend to the capacity of health professionals to manage diseases.
200 words and one scholarly reference
Order an Essay Now & Get These Features For Free:
Turnitin Report
Formatting
Title Page
Citation
Outline
