"We know we should do ____, but instead we do ____"

[LinksEtc]

Tweeted by @HeartSisters


"We know we should do ____, but instead we do ____"

http://myheartsisters.org/2014/07/20/we-know-we-should-do-____-but-instead-we-do-____/

I read this on the side of a Starbucks coffee cup. Seriously. It was written by Harvard psychologist Dr. Daniel Gilbert, who said:

"The fact that we can make disastrous decisions even as we foresee their consequences is the great unsolved mystery of human behaviour.

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Carry epi's?

Strictly avoid allergens?

Take asthma meds?

etc

etc

etc

[CMdeux]

This is the fundamental conundrum regarding field usage of epinephrine, too.

I suspect that there is an element of denial at work in this psychological phenomenon.  That is, if you don't do ____ then it can't really be as bad as all that, because if it WERE, well then of COURSE you'd be doing _____.   If B, then C.  But if I don't C, then it can't actually be B.   Voila!  Problem solved.  Whew.  B is really awful.  Good thing I didn't admit that it was possible by doing C.   

[LinksEtc]

Tweeted by @IgECPD

A behavioral economics intervention to encourage epinephrine-carrying among food-allergic adults: a randomized controlled trial.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26093776

Epinephrine is the cornerstone of emergency response, yet few individuals with serious food allergies consistently carry their emergency medication. Behavioral economics offers promising, previously untapped opportunities for behavior change in this arena.

Although the intervention and control groups reported favorable impressions of text message-based reminder systems, the intervention group performed significantly better than the control group on a photograph-based measurement of epinephrine carriage. There remained ample room for improvement in the 2 groups given the goal of consistent, uninterrupted epinephrine carriage by people with potentially life-threatening food allergies.

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Tweeted by @HeartSisters


Living with the "burden of treatment"
http://myheartsisters.org/2013/02/16/living-with-the-burden-of-treatment/

Dr. Victor Montori of Mayo Clinic describes two types of patients living with chronic illness who don't follow their physicians' advice when it comes to implementing recommended treatments or therapies.

&


"Patient Burnout"
http://www.nmodiaries.com/2014/09/08/1264/

When I mentioned this in passing to my students that day, it immediately got a reaction. "Patient burnout?!? That's a THING?!? I thought just doctors got burnout?" 

[LinksEtc]

"Why We Don't Use Epinephrine Enough"
http://foodallergybitch.blogspot.com/2012/08/why-we-dont-use-epinephrine-enough.html

There are two issues the device fails to address: recognizing anaphylaxis and acting once we see it.

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"Food Allergies & Prescribed Injectable Epinephrine: Know. Practice. Carry. Use."
http://asthmaallergieschildren.com/2012/12/09/food-allergies-prescribed-injectable-epinephrine-know-practice-carry-use/

Everyone told me I should have used the EpiPen® immediately, but I had been too scared to do so.

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You're prepared for an allergy emergency, but is your child?

[LinksEtc]

"The Ethics of Converting Allergy Slacker Moms"
http://foodallergybitch.blogspot.com/2012/04/ethics-of-converting-allergy-slacker.html

Of 14,677 patients in an HMO (gotta love HMOs for epidemiology!) who received an EpiPen® prescription, only 46% filled the prescription even once.

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"Converting Slacker Allergy Moms: Advocacy Edition"
http://foodallergybitch.blogspot.com/2012/04/converting-slacker-allergy-moms.html

Advocates, you're missing the point. These mothers are educated. They have seen the reaction. They have the prescription in hand. They are choosing to ignore it, despite having the information they need.

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I thought that FAB made some interesting points, but will also put this link here for context.

New EpiPen TV ad . . .

[LinksEtc]

Re: Dealing with non-medical factors that impact health

Tweeted by @AACMaven


"Non-Adherence: the Multiple Challenges of Treating Asthma in a Medicaid Population"
http://asthmaallergieschildren.com/2014/10/13/non-adherence-the-multiple-challenges-of-treating-asthma-in-a-medicaid-population/

"How can I best help you?" I routinely ask this question at the beginning of visits to get the best sense of how to frame that day's interaction. However, in this instance, my question was one of desperation.

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Tweeted by 99u

"The Struggles of a Psychologist Studying Self-Control"
http://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/struggles-psychologist-studying-self-control

Mischel's story isn't surprising—nicotine is addictive, and quitting is difficult—except for one thing: Mischel is the creator of the marshmallow test, one of the most famous experiments in the history of psychology, which is often cited as evidence of the importance of self-control.