Coping with Illness and Treatment Flashcards
Describe the WHO model of consequences of disease and causal links
Impairment
Disability
Handicap
What is impairment
refers to a problem with a structure or organ of the body
What is disability
a functional limitation with regard to a particular activity
What is handicap
refers to a disadvantage in filling a role in life relative to a peer group, as a result of impairment and disability
What are the associations between impairment, disability and handicap
Disability strongly correlates with handicap.
But research shows a very low correlation between impairment and disability
Suggesting other factors in addition to impairment (structural problem), influencedisability (functional limitations)…
What illness related factors affect how people cope
Unexpected Cause & Outcome/Prognosis Disability Stigma Disfigurement Prior experience
What background/personal factors affect how people cope
Age of onset Gender SES & occupation Pre-existing illness beliefs Pre-existing personality
Describe the Crisis theory of coping
Serious illness presents ‘a crisis’ and our usual, habitual ways of coping are inadequate.
A state of disorganisation, feelings of fear, guilt, sadness etc .
Compare adaptive and maladaptive responses
Adaptive responses personal growth and adjustment to the illness.
Maladaptive responses poor adjustment (psychological problems, low functioning etc).
What are the health associations of the big five personality traits
Openness – no clear link to health
Conscientiousness - +2 years life expectancy
Extraversion – lower rates of CHD, protective respiratory disease
Agreeableness – Hostility associated w/ CHD
Neuroticism – higher use of alcohol and smoking; higher symptom reporting
What are the physical and social environments that might affect coping
Hospitalisation
Accommodation and physical aids/adaptations
Societal attitudes
Social support & social role
Define illness representations
A patients own implicit, common sense beliefs about their illness
What are the features of illness representations
Identity Cause Consequences Time line Curability/controllability
What are the two types of adaptive tasks
Tasks related to illness or treatment
Tasks related to general psychosocial functioning
What may tasks related to illness or treatment be used in
Coping with symptoms or disability
Adjusting to hospital environment/medical procedures
Developing and maintaining good relationships with healthcare professionals
What may tasks related to general psychosocial functioning be used for
Controlling negative feelings and retaining a positive outlook
Maintaining a satisfactory self image and sense of competence
Preserving good relationships with family and friends
Preparing for an uncertain future
Define coping
Cognitive and behavioural efforts to master, reduce or tolerate external and internal demands and conflicts (Strauss, 1988)
Describe problem focussed coping
Efforts directed at changing the environment in some way or changing one’s own actions or attitudes.
Describe emotional focussed coping
Efforts designed to manage the stress-related emotional responses in order to maintain one’s own morale and allow one to function.
Give examples of techniques for problem focussed coping
Seeking relevant information about an illness
Learning specific illness related procedures e.g. pacing activities
Changing behaviour e.g. diet
Give examples of techniques for emotion focussed coping
Seeking reassurance and emotional support
Learning relaxation strategies
Meditation
Why may patient distress be a bad thing
Moral/ethical responsibility to minimize suffering if possible.
Distress during treatment related to longer term psychological morbidity.
Distress during treatment related to wide variety of treatment outcomes, eg, patients not complying.
Compare procedural to sensory information
Procedural information – Information about the procedures to be undertaken
Sensory information – Information about the sensations that may be experienced.
Give examples of how control in medical situations can be increased
A device for patient to signal their pain/discomfort during dental treatment can reduce distress
Patient can squeeze a buzzer during an MRI to halt the procedure
Control over treatment options for fertility procedures related to greater well-being
What are the differences in timing of giving information to children of different ages
Older children (> 7yrs) benefit most from information presented about a week before a procedure, younger children closer to the procedure.
What is the most effective coping strategy for younger children
Distraction
What is the most effective coping strategy for children over 9
matching coping strategy to child’s preferred coping strategy is more effective.
