Q&A: Helping a patient with a strong religious background cope with a diagnosis

Q: What can a case manager do to help a patient with a strong religious background cope with a newly diagnosed life-altering illness?

A: Case managers must be familiar with the different coping mechanisms like denial and the stages of grief and loss. What is the patient’s coping capacity—how did he or she cope with previous adversity or serious situations? The previous pattern of coping can give clues regarding how the patient might cope with new difficulties.

Ask the patient about his or her strengths. Pointing out strengths that remain may help inspire the patient to continue in recovery or learn alternate ways to cope with new deficits.

Sometimes coping capacity can be strengthened by one’s spiritual and/or cultural background. Find out from the patient which cultural and spiritual practices may provide comfort. Be aware of cultural or religious practices or beliefs that may affect the treatment plan, and be prepared to educate hospital staff about the patient’s beliefs. If the patient is choosing to go against cultural or religious norms, he or she may need emotional support. The case manager may also need to advocate for the patient’s decisions in the face of conflict with the patient’s family, friends, or even the medical team.

One must also know when cultural or religious issues may clash with legal requirements. This is especially the case when working in pediatrics.

For more information, see Case Management Patient Communication Toolkit.

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