What are the other dimensions of quality care, and why are they important? What has changed since the days when "doctor knows best?"

Answer 1

Mahelen,

Taking a prompt and understanding in depth the question that you need to answer with your essay is essential. Based on the first sentence, the theme of this prompt seems to be the importance of quality care. How would you define quality care? Why does it matter? The second sentence seems to go in a different direction. Why is that sentence there? Is it suggesting that a central feature to quality care is not having the doctor as the final decision maker? Is it suggesting that one way to structure the essay is to compare and contrast between current standards of quality care and previous standards of quality care? Exploring the prompt with questions like this is a beginning point in developing a thesis, or focal point, to your essay. Do you have other questions? I suggest making notes, either actual note cards or a software tool that allows jotting down ideas and being to move them around.

Essays always require a thesis and supporting arguments. Supporting arguments are the facts/ideas that illustrate your thesis. I would start with defining the term "other dimensions of quality care." Can you make a list of at least three dimensions of quality care - state them, define them, provide examples, do research and provide citations of their importance. This will provide the body of your essay. Also, that word 'other' is suggesting a contrast to something. I am unclear from the prompt what the contrast is about? My guess is that it is referring to the provision of quality medical procedures and that 'quality care' refers to the extra parts of quality care.

The prompt may seem simple at first. I hoping this is an example of the exploratory thinking and initial note generation that will lead to a well-focused essay.

Answer 2

Mahelen,

I would assume that this is your essay topic. Am I correct? If this is the main question that you are trying to answer, I would start by investigating some literature in the field of disability studies. Disability studies literature talks a lot about the importance of person first language. And I think that part of your answer to your question may be that we have started to see a shift toward patient first medical care, or at least that is a goal of some were trying to change the medical system as we know it. I don't really know if there is evidence to support the claim that I just put forward, but I would start by looking in peer-reviewed, particularly medical journals and any library databases that you may have access to that include medical sources. Some keywords that you may be could use would be patient care, patient first care, patient centered care, etc. I hope that this helps guide you in the right direction.