Health Psychology - Introduction & stressful medical procedures

Question 1

Health Psychology =

Answer 1

The study of social, behavioral, cognitive and emotional factors that contribute to:

1. Promote and maintain health
2. Prevent and manage illness
3. Identify psychological factors that add to fysical illness
4. Improve the healthcare system

Question 2

Different types of interventions:

Answer 2

1. Primary
   * Prevent illness and disease
2. Secondary
   * Reduce the impact of a disease or injury that has already occured (screening)
3. Tertiary
   * Consists of rehabilitations and efforts to prevent further disease progression (after diagnosis)

Question 3

Disease

Definition

Answer 3

A biomedically defined pathology that may or may not be apparent to the individual

Question 4

Illness

Definition

Answer 4

A person’s subjective experience of their symptoms

Question 5

Delay in seeking help when experiencing symptoms

Answer 5

1. Notice symptoms
2. Interpret symptoms
3. React
4. Health care

Question 6

Notice symtoms

(delay in seeking help)

Answer 6

Symptoms
* Severity
* Persistence
* Quantity
* Interference with ability to work
* Switch from private to public symptoms
* Ambigious

Question 7

React

(delay in seeking help)

Answer 7

Individual
* Lack of knowledge
* Anticipation/ expectations
* Poor health seeking practices
* Previous experience
* Selective attention
* Stress
* Older age

Socio-cultural
* Health campains
* Media
* Stigma
* Stereotype
* Input other lay people

Question 8

React

(delay in seeking help)

Answer 8

Other alternatives
* Passive waiting
* Taking time off
* Resting
* Consulting others
* Self-medication

Question 9

Health care

(delay in seeking help)

Answer 9

Health care
* Availability
* Accessability
* Acceptability
* Outcome expectations

Question 10

Illnes cognitions

Definition

Answer 10

A person’s own common sense believes about their illness

Illness cognitions influence how people cope with their disease

Question 11

Illness cognitions (dimensions)

Answer 11

1. Identity
2. Perceived cause of the illness
3. Timeline
4. Consequenses
5. Cure and control

Question 12

Why can illness and hospitalization be seen as a crisis

Answer 12

• Because its a turning point in someones life
• A disruption to established patterns of personal and social functioning produces a state of phycological, social, and physical disequilibrium

Think of changes in identity, location, role, social support and future

Question 13

Adaptive taks

Answer 13

People often have to make adjustments to:

• Symptoms of the disease
• Stess of the treatment
• Loss of control
• Threat to self-esteem
• Feelings of vulnerability
• Financial concerns
• Changes in family structure

Adaptive taks are part of coping with a disease

Question 14

Hospitalization stressors

Answer 14

1. Illness
2. Treatment
3. Recovery
4. Hospital environment

Question 15

Illness as a hospitalization stressor

Answer 15

• Lack of control
• Unpredictable
• Cause and outcome unclear
• Limited prior experience
• Ambigious

Question 16

Treatment as an hospitalization stressor

Answer 16

• Painfull and/ or uncomfortable procedures
• Lack of information about treatment
• Pre-operative anxiety
• Quick decisions needed

Question 17

Recovery as a hospitalization stressor

Answer 17

• Uncertainty about implications for future life
• Worries about how to self-care after discharge from the hospital

Question 18

Hospital environment as an hospitalization stressor

Answer 18

• Sleep disturbance
• Separated from family
• Lack of control
• Loss of autonomy
• Communication difficulties with hospital staff

Question 19

Effects of hostpitalization stressors

Answer 19

• Unpleasant
• Barrier for postoperative recovery
• Effect on **postoperative mood and pain **
• Interference with normal cognitive and socio-emotional develpment in children
• Depression

Depression is linked to a longer stay and higher chance of readmission within 30 days of discharge