In addition any type of change is difficult for all of us. The third step is to help the patient determine why he or she may be resistant to or non-compliant with the treatment prescription. The staff should then help the patient create a plan of action to reduce or eliminate non-compliant behavior. The focus should be not only on the consequences to the patient for not being compliant but also what the rewards may be. Help the patient to create the picture in his or her mind as to what his or her life could be like when the diet, fluid and treatment prescriptions are followed.
Every clinic has at least one or two patients who do well and have adjusted to the dialysis regime.
These patients may well have a more powerful influence. Sometimes placing the patient who is not compliant next to the patient who is compliant may have a positive effect. Advice and encouragement from one who has experienced the rigors of the treatments and dietary prescriptions and has found a way to navigate the tricky waters to a better life, may have more credibility than that from people who have not. The fourth step is to provide hope to the patient in the form of encouragement and recognition when he or she is demonstrating compliant behavior or results. The tone and form of the compliment should be in the nature of how the patient feels about his or her progress.