Assignment task:
Jacob is a 35-year-old man who will be undergoing a Right total knee replacement (TKR). This is as a result of being a competitive tennis player throughout his adolescent years and into his early 20's. Jacob is about to become a first time father and is currently working a high-stress job in finance working long hours (up to 60 hours per week), and winds down by drinking three glasses of wine at least 5 nights per week, He also binge drinks (more than 4 standard drinks) on the weekend.
Jacob is a carer for his elderly mother and shares this role with his two younger siblings, Sarah and Erica. He feels obligated to provide support to his sisters and mother. His mother Irma lives alone but requires assistance with attending appointments (she does not drive), and some household activities. Jacobs's father Geoff died when he was 17 of complications from hepatitis related to prolonged alcohol use.
You are a Health care professional working in the pre-surgery intake clinic that Jacob will attend prior to surgery. Jacob has raised concerns with his GP about the long-term consequences of prolonged and increased alcohol use.
Jacob tells you, "I'm worried about my health, my work stress and drinking habit. I drink to manage my stress and my GP is encouraging me to reduce my alcohol use. I want to reduce my drinking and be healthier. My wife is having our first child in 3 months. I'm not sure how to start. I have attempted to stop drinking in the past and been able to be alcohol free for around a month. Can you please advise me on what I can do?".
You decide that Jacob is ready to make a change to his behaviour and is therefore in Stage 3, (Preparation stage) of the Transtheoretical Model of Change. You decide you need to build a therapeutic relationship with Jacob using therapeutic communication so that you can implement Motivational Interviewing techniques to assist Jacob in moving into Stage 4 (Action stage).
a). Firstly, identify the life stage in which Jacob is in with regard to his age and life experiences. Consider (with rationale to support your choice) Eriksons stage of development and how this influences Jacob's current health behaviour (alcohol use). Need Online Assistance?
b) Identify the key basic skills of OARS (open ended questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summarising) and describe how the Health Care Professional (HCP) will use these skills to elicit Jacobs reasons for wanting to change