Misunderstandings can often be clarified simply by talking to an informed professional. Good communication also ensures that all caregivers understand the plan prescribed by other health care practitioners. People who take responsibility for helping to monitor the good and bad effects of the treatment and discussing concerns with health care practitioners will likely have better results with a treatment plan. They should inform the doctor, pharmacist, or nurse about unwanted or unexpected effects before adjusting or stopping the treatment on their own. A person often has good reasons for not following a plan, and a doctor can make an appropriate adjustment after a frank discussion of the problem.
Support groups are often available for people with similar conditions.
These groups can often reinforce treatment plans and provide suggestions for coping with problems. Names and telephone numbers of support groups can be obtained through local hospitals and community councils. All rights reserved.