chronic illness experience Flashcards
chronic illness
a long-term condition, a disease that lasts a lifetime
impairment
abnormalities in the functioning of the body
disability
inability to perform. an activity in a manner considered normal for a human being
handicap
a social disadvantage which results from the inability to fulfill a role that is normal
multiple sclerosis, diabetes, heart disease etc… are examples of
impairment
walking with support is an example of
disability
disadvantage due to inability to have full-time employment is an example of
handicap
what disadvantage might patients experience due to chronic illness?
- difficulty to manage the symptoms
- difficulty to manage the treatment
- adjust to a new life, adopt the sick role
- psychological distress
- social isolation
psychological changes in chronic illness
- uncertainty
- family relations
- biographical disruption
3 forms of uncertainty
- uncertainty about the cause
- uncertainty about functionality
- uncertainty about prognosis
how chronic illness affects family relations
- reallocation of tasks
- patients may feel like a burden
- patients may withdraw from family
- marital breakdown
biographical disruption
patients’ daily lives are disrupted
ex - a patient withdrawing from daily activities to undergo chemotherapy
what does it mean for a patient to enter the “sick role”
- nobody blames them
- they are excused to be withdrawn from social activities
- they are expected to seek help
- they are expected to return to social activities
the sick role can be applicable in many cases
- for acute conditions, patients adopt the sick role and get better
- for chronic conditions, patients adopt it to improve their quality of living
- in any case, the purpose is to return to social stability
biographical disruption has two main types
- disruption of what patients take for granted (routine)
ex: daily routine schedule - disruption of patients’ biography (structures of identity)
ex: family, education, career
