Managing illness Flashcards
Self care
A part of everyday living; it is the care taken by individuals towards their own health and wellbeing, and includes the care extended to their children, family, friends and others in neighbourhoods and local communities.
Barofsky’s functions of self care (1978)
- restorative; to alleviate illness
- reactive; to alleviate symptoms
- preventative; to prevent disease
- regulatory; to regulate body processes
Components of self care
- maintenance
- monitoring
- management
Healthism
The notion that good health is a personal choice, particularly popular amongst young people and the middle class. Associated with a high degree of consumer choice, and skepticism of science.
Factors contributing to self care
- symptom management
- definitions of health and illness
- healthism/consumerism
- body maintenance
- changing beliefs about medical power and expertise
- internet use
- technology
- over the counter medication/online pharmacy
- increase in the number of patients with chronic disease
- expert patients
- patient choice/empowerment
- need to reduce NHS costs
Co-morbidities
Chronic diseases carry a large number of self care tasks, which may be time consuming and expensive. Patients with multiple morbidities may have synergistic or non-synergistic conditions, which can be extremely difficult to manage. Patients whose conditions are treated separately rather than holistically may experience poorly-coordinated and ineffective care.
Master status
The social position which is the primary identifying characteristic of an individual. In patients with multiple morbidities, this is the condition which is most important to them.
The Expert Patient’s programme
Supports patients with long-term conditions to build the knowledge, skills and confidence to effectively self manage their condition. Aims to improve quality of life and create a partnership between patients and health professionals.