Sagot 5547 Reflection

Respond/comment/Discuss to colleague”s post as attached

During my practicum, I participated in a follow-up visit for a 24-year-old female who returned to review laboratory results obtained at a prior visit for persistent fatigue and dizziness. The laboratory findings confirmed iron deficiency anemia, which aligned with her history of heavy menstrual bleeding. Research shows that for reproductive-aged women, the symptom of heavy menstrual bleeding is highly prevalent and a major contributor to iron deficiency (Munro et al., 2023). Knowing this, I initially felt confident interpreting the results. However, the encounter challenged me to move beyond diagnosis and focus on patient education and shared decision-making.

This experience highlighted the importance of correlating laboratory data with a thorough history, particularly in identifying chronic blood loss as an underlying cause. Reviewing the results with the patient reinforced the need to communicate complex information in an understandable way while addressing her concerns about long-term management. Numeric laboratory results can be challenging to interpret, and it may cause anxiety and confusion for the patient, so I made sure to take my time so she could fully understand (Van Der Mee et al., 2024). I also recognized that failure to explore gynecologic contributors could result in delayed resolution of symptoms and recurrent anemia.

From this encounter, I learned that anemia management extends beyond prescribing iron supplementation and requires addressing the underlying etiology. Patient adherence is closely tied to understanding the diagnosis and treatment rationale (Patel et al., 2025). Moving forward, my action plan includes strengthening my counseling skills, routinely assessing menstrual history in reproductive-aged females, and ensuring appropriate referrals are made to address contributing factors. This approach will support improved outcomes and continuity of care.

References

Munro, M. G., Mast, A. E., Powers, J. M., Kouides, P. A., OBrien, S. H., Richards, T., Lavin, M., & Levy, B. S. (2023). The relationship between heavy menstrual bleeding, iron deficiency, and iron deficiency anemia. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 229(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2023.01.017

Patel, S., Huang, M., & Miliara, S. (2025). Understanding treatment adherence in chronic diseases: Challenges, consequences, and strategies for improvement. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(17), 6034.

Van Der Mee, F. A. M., Schaper, F., Jansen, J., Bons, J. A. P., Meex, S. J. R., & Cals, J. W. L. (2024). Enhancing patient understanding of laboratory test results: Systematic review of presentation formats and their impact on perception, decision, action, and memory. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 26, e53993. https://doi.org/10.2196/53993