Case

Presentation
Tiara Mitchell
SWK Field Work
The University of North Carolina at
Pembroke
September 30, 2016

Patients background
Female
69

years old
African American
Fairmont, North Carolina
Admitted

into the hospital for abdominal

pain
Diagnosis/problem: Diverticulosis

Diverticulosis
Diverticulosis

occurs when small, bulging

pouches (diverticula) develop in your digestive
tract. The pouches develop when weak spots
in the intestinal wall give way under pressure.
When one or more of these pouches become
inflamed or infected, the condition is called
diverticuliti.

Little pockets in the intestine

Symptoms:

Bloated, chronic stomach cramps,

constipation or diarrhea
Risk factors: Obesity, age 40 or older, a
history of constipation

Diverticulosis
One

episode a couple of years ago

The patient was admitted into the hospital and she

was treated with needles and a specific diet
She was discharged with a prescribed medicine to
help with her condition

Another

episode was triggered on

September 24, 2016

The patient is not sure exactly what caused it but

she stated that she ate a salad on Wednesday,
which contained tomatoes and cucumbers.

Changes to improve or
decrease problem
Diverticulosis

diet (high fiber diet)

Watching what she eats so that nothing
will trigger her condition
The doctor gave the patient a pamplet
that explained what Diverticulosis was,
what caused it, and any changes to
improve the condition
Foods to avoid: nuts, seeds, popcorn

Value differences between the

client and I

No value differences between the patient and

I

Biases
Why

did the patient eat a salad with

tomatoes and cucumbers when she
knew they contained seeds?
Whether the patient was going to avoid
eating specific things that would cause
another episode?

Life experiences that have

shaped them into the person
they are
The

patient is unsure of what caused

the pouches to form in her intestine
Research

Low fiber diet

Changes recommended for the

agency or service
1)

Following up with the patient to make

sure she is following a strict diet that
does not cause more episodes to occur
2) Explaining the packet given to the
patient more thoroughly to give the
patient a better understanding of how to
control her condition

Competencies used in the

interview
Competency

1: Demonstrate Ethical and

Professional Behavior
Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference
in Practice
Competency 4: Engage In Practice-informed
Research and Research-informed Practice
Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families,
Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families,
Groups, Organizations, and Communities