CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Question 1

Chronic illness is associated with complexity in multiple

areas in its

Answer 1

– Cause
– Effects and
– Consequences

Question 2

Three main factors are associated with this

Answer 2

1. Exacerbations
2. Illness and its treatment may generate further issues
3. Those with chronic illness may experience unequal access to
   care and support

Question 3

Challenges
faced by a
patient with
a chronic
condition

Answer 3

• Persisting, recurring problems with symptom control
• Uncertainty about the future
• Lifestyle restrictions
• Impact on family life through relationship stress
• The sense of dependency on caregivers
• Loss of self-esteem
• Guilt at loss of ability to carry out productive roles
• Impoverishment
• Stigma
• Despondency
• Non- disease complaints including sleep disorders,
diminished energy, accident proneness and constipation

Question 4

Stigma

Answer 4

Defining people as abnormal if they do not fit into the ‘expected’
relates to being ‘different’ from the norm

Question 5

Stigmatising process

Answer 5

Stereotyping
Labelling
Othering

Question 6

Stereotyping

Answer 6

• Involves categorising and prejudging
individuals based on an oversimplified set of
beliefs about the nature and characteristics of
particular groups

Question 7

Labelling

Answer 7

• The application of negative stereotypes by
naming individuals and their groups as
problematic

Question 8

Othering

Answer 8

• The social construction of people with certain
characteristics into named groups that are
viewed as different in some way from what is
widely believed in society to be normal

Question 9

The experience of chronic illness is influenced by the context in
which the person lives:

Answer 9

– Culture
– Socioeconomic status
– Employment
– Social networks
– Physical living environment

Question 10

• QoL is impacted by many psychosocial factors:

Answer 10

– Physical health
– Financial stability
– Family dynamics and cohesiveness
– Strong social support networks
– Maintenance of optimal levels of cognitive functioning
– Personal control
– Prevention of depression

Question 11

The MDT

Answer 11

Need to work collaboratively to determine priorities and the nature of the
interventions to be implemented to provide holistic care.
• Collaboration allows the team to respond to the changing needs of a person with
chronic illness.

Question 12

The composition of ‘The Team’ may change as

Answer 12

the needs of individuals with chronic

illness also change, requiring different disciplines and agencies to be involved.