A client did not attend the clinic for required follow-up care after h

A client did not attend the clinic for required follow-up care after his extensive surgery. Which of the following would be the most appropriate conclusion for the nurse to make?

a. The client is noncompliant.
b. The client is suffering from self-neglect.
c. The health care system is not meeting the client’s perceived needs.
d. The health care system is not accessible for the client.
e. The nurse has not motivated the client appropriately.

ESSAYBID ANSWER

ANS: C
Although it is easy to blame the patient for being noncompliant or neglecting himself or herself, or to blame the nurse for not “educating” the patient appropriately, it is equally plausible that the health care system is not meeting the client’s perceived needs. Clients can have many reasons for not keeping an appointment, such as family emergencies, lack of funds, or lack of transportation. Sociocultural and ethnic barriers can also be factors. This is part of the health belief model where the premise is that the world of the perceiver determines the action.