The aim of this tool is to be better able to apply general prenatal exercise recommendations to specific situations based on the patient’s individual needs.
The 4 Cs stand for Curiosity, Compassion, Connection and Collaboration. I believe this framework can provide a holistic approach to individualized care that meets the patient at the juncture for change. Experience has proven to me personally, that compassionate care can be the difference between behavior change and defeat.
Knowing that time is scarce in clinic settings, rest assured that even utilizing one of these four Cs in your time with patients can make a powerful difference! Let’s Begin!
Step 1: Curiosity
If time allows for conversation:
- Get curious about your patient and consider how you might learn more about their relationship to exercise, fitness and health.
- Instead of making assumptions, put yourself in the role of the curious friend. To do so, you might begin with an open-ended question such as, “How do you feel about your level of fitness and health?”
- This allows the patient to pause and consider this in real time.
- It shows that you value their opinion of how they’re doing and builds trust between the two parties.
- If they feel there is room for improvement, you can help them to identify a gap from where they are to where they’d like to be.
- You might ask another open-ended question such as, “What goals do you have for your fitness journey? Or, “What do you feel might be the difference between where you are now and where you’d like to be?”
- Additional steps include:
- Exploring WHY this matters for the patient.
- Utilizing a closing follow-up question such as, “What would be one small thing you could do this week to move the needle in the direction of positive change?”
If time is scarce:
In lieu of or in addition to a brief conversation, you (or a support staff member) can offer the patient a CSEP Get Active Questionnaire for Pregnancy for completion. This will give you a window into the patient’s activity level and will open the door for the following steps.
Step 2: Compassion
Offer compassion to the patient for wherever they are in their journey. In my practice, compassion can feel like a soft smile, eye contact and a pause in the conversation to appreciate the patient and their lived experience.
I know, “but HOW?” You’re wondering?! “How can I fit all of this into a brief appointment…we’re only on the second C!”
If this is starting to feel like a lot, like an impossibility during a 15 minute clinic visit, know that utilizing even ONE of the 4Cs in your patient interaction will be of great benefit. Also know that within this very step, compassion is available for you as well.
Compassion for taking the time to be curious, compassion for the deep well of support you provide to patients each and everyday, compassion for your workload and for your great responsibility as a provider.
Compassion for you can feel like a deep breath or a sigh, like moving your body in a relaxing/relieving way. It can be placing one hand in the other for a moment and rubbing the top of your hand with your own thumb. It can be placing your arm across your chest momentarily in a half-hug…no one will be the wiser and everyone will feel better.
Step 3: Connection
Here is where you connect the patient to resources such as CSEP guidelines, evidence based education, local classes within your community and thoughtfully designed prenatal exercise programs (online or in print).
I have created multiple handouts to support you in this effort, both for you and your patients, all of which you can find within the Provider Toolkit on this website.
Step 4: Collaboration
Which brings me to the importance of collaboration. I truly believe that it takes a collaborative approach to support not only our patients, but ourselves. We cannot and should not be expected to know everything! Having trusted referrals and resources helps to bridge the gap between specialties and allows for comprehensive continuity of care.
You can build bridges locally by connecting with Women’s Health Physical Therapists, Local Gyms/Fitness Facilities and with pre/postnatal fitness providers.
I offer complimentary consultations for all providers so we might partner to best guide your patients.