Module 10 A Flashcards
Chapter 3 module 10a
Chronic Illness
❖ A broad term that encompasses many different physical
and mental alterations in health
❖ Usually has a slow onset and may have periods of
remission and exacerbation
❖ Examples: diabetes mellitus, lung disease, arthritis, lupus
Definitions of Health States
Health—a state of complete physical, mental, and social
well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
❖ Illness—the unique response of a person to a disease; an
abnormal process involving changed level of functioning
❖ Disease—medical term, referring to pathologic changes in
the structure or function of the body or mind
❖ Wellness—an active state of being healthy by living a
lifestyle promoting good physical, mental, and emotional
health
Acute Illness
❖ Generally has a rapid onset of symptoms and lasts only a
relatively short time
❖ Examples: appendicitis, pneumonia, diarrhea, common
cold
Characteristics of a Chronic Illness
❖ It is a permanent change.
❖ It causes, or is caused by, irreversible alterations in
normal anatomy and physiology.
❖ It requires special patient education for rehabilitation.
❖ It requires a long period of care or support.
Stages of Illness Behavior
❖ Stage 1: Experiencing symptoms
❖ Stage 2: Assuming the sick role
❖ Stage 3: Assuming a dependent role
❖ Stage 4: Achieving recovery and rehabilitation
Factors Influencing Health Disparities
❖ Racial and ethnic groups ❖ Poverty ❖ Gender; age ❖ Mental health ❖ Educational level ❖ Disabilities ❖ Sexual orientation ❖ Health insurance and access to health care
The Human Dimensions Affecting Health
❖ Physical dimension—genetic inheritance, age,
developmental level, race, and gender
❖ Emotional dimension—how the mind affects body
function and responds to body conditions
❖ Intellectual dimension—cognitive abilities, educational
background, and past experiences
❖ Environmental dimension—housing; sanitation; climate;
pollution of air, food, and water
❖ Sociocultural dimension—economic level, lifestyle, family,
and culture
❖ Spiritual dimension—spiritual beliefs and values
❖ Physical dimension—
genetic inheritance, age,
developmental level, race, and gender
Factors Affecting Health and Illness
❖ Basic human needs
❖ The human dimensions
❖ Self-concept
❖ Risk factors for illness or injury
❖ Emotional dimension—
how the mind affects body function and responds to body conditions
❖ Intellectual dimension—
cognitive abilities, educational
background, and past experiences
❖ Environmental dimension—
housing; sanitation; climate;
pollution of air, food, and water
❖ Sociocultural dimension—
economic level, lifestyle, family,
and culture
❖ Spiritual dimension—
spiritual beliefs and values
Health Promotion and Illness Prevention #1
❖ Primary: directed toward promoting health and
preventing the development of disease processes or
injury.
o Examples are immunization clinics, family planning
services, poison-control information, and accident-
prevention education.
❖ Secondary: focus on screening for early detection of
disease with prompt diagnosis and treatment of any
found
o Examples are assessing children for normal growth
and development and encouraging regular medical,
dental, and vision examinations.
Health Promotion and Illness Prevention #2
❖ Tertiary: begins after an illness is diagnosed and treated,
with the goal of reducing disability and helping
rehabilitate patients to a maximum level of functioning
o Examples include teaching a patient with diabetes
how to recognize and prevent complications, using
physical therapy to prevent contractures in a patient
who has had a stroke or spinal cord injury, and
referring a woman to a support group after removal
of a breast because of cancer.
Models of Health and Illness
❖ The health belief model
❖ The health promotion model
❖ The health–illness continuum
❖ The agent–host–environment model
Agent–Host–Environment Model (Leavell
and Clark)
❖ Views the interaction between an external agent, a
susceptible host, and the environment as causes of
disease in a person.
❖ It is a traditional model that explains how certain factors
place some people at risk for an infectious disease.
❖ These three factors are constantly interacting, and a
combination of factors may increase the risk of illness.
❖ The use of this model is limited when dealing with
noninfectious diseases.
The Health–Illness Continuum #1
❖ Conceptualizes a person’s level of health
❖ Views health as a constantly changing state with high-
level wellness and death on opposite sides of a
continuum
❖ Illustrates the dynamic (ever-changing) state of health as
a person adapts to changes in internal and external
environments to maintain a state of well being.
The Health Belief Model (Rosenstock)
❖ Concerned with what people perceive to be true about
themselves in relation to their health
❖ Modifying factors for health include demographic,
sociopsychological, and structural variables.
❖ Based on three components of individual perceptions of
threat of a disease
o Perceived susceptibility to a disease
o Perceived seriousness of a disease
o Perceived benefits of action
The Health Promotion Model (Pender)
❖ Developed to illustrate how people interact with their
environment as they pursue health
❖ Incorporates individual characteristics and experiences
and behavior-specific knowledge and beliefs, to motivate
health-promoting behavior
❖ Personal, biologic, psychological, and sociocultural factors
are predictive of a certain health-related habit.
❖ Health-related behavior is the outcome of the model and
is directed toward attaining positive health outcomes and
experiences throughout the lifespan.
Risk Factors for Illness
❖ Age ❖ Genetic factors ❖ Physiologic factors ❖ Health habits ❖ Lifestyle ❖ Environment
Chapter 4 Module 10A
