Topic 4: chronic illness experience

Question 1

Define chronic illness

Answer 1

A condition that is long term and can last a life time e.g. diabetes, end stage kidney disease

Question 2

What is the prevelance of chronic illness?

Answer 2

• 18% = 16 yr +
• If 75 yr + = 51% women and 43% men
• Significant increase at age 45 +

Question 3

Define impairment

Answer 3

Abnormalities in the functioning body e.g. MS, diabetes, heart disease

Question 4

Define disability

Answer 4

Inability to perform in a manner considered normal e.g. walking with support

Question 5

Define handicap

Answer 5

Social disadvantage from inability to fulfil normal role e.g. have a full time employment

Question 6

Describe some disadvantages + deprivations of chronic illness

Answer 6

• Difficulty managing symptoms
• Difficulty managing treatment
• Adjusting to new life/role
• Psychological distress
• Social isolation

Question 7

What might be the psychosocial changes for chronic patients?

Answer 7

1) Uncertainty
2) Family relations
3) Biographical disruption

Question 8

Describe the psychosocial change of uncertainty

Answer 8

3 forms:
1) Uncertain about cause
2) Uncertain about functionality of self
3) Uncertain about feelings about prognosis
- Feelings are stronger when patient have social obligations

Question 9

Describe the psychosocial change of family relations

Answer 9

• Reallocation of tasks = partner working more hours to compensate salary
• Feel a burden
• Withdraw from family life = not participate in gatherings
• Marital breakdown

Question 10

Describe the psychosocial change of biographical disruption

Answer 10

• Daily life disrupted = withdraw from routine activities for treatment
• May lose what they think is most important to them in life e.g. career + family = causes stress

Question 11

How does access to resources help manage chronic illness?

Answer 11

• Access to good adequete resources supports independent living
• E.g. healthcare + house + shops + social networks

Question 12

Explain Talcott Parson’s sick role

Answer 12

• Society as social harmony
• Hospitals = micro societies
• Doctors + patients adopt social roles = stability

Question 13

What is the doctor’s role in the sick role?

Answer 13

• Use knowledge
• Treat patients
• Fair treatment

Question 14

What is the patient’s role in the sick role?

Answer 14

• Nobody blames
• Excused to withdraw from social activities
• Expected to seek help
• Expected to return to social activities

Question 15

Describe sick role in different cases

Answer 15

• Acute conditions = patient adopts = gets well
• Chronic conditions = patient adopts = improve condition + quality of life
• Purpose in all cases = return to normal social roles

Question 16

Describe the problems with the sick role

Answer 16

• Patient may have lethal disease = not able to enter sick role = incurable cancer/brain injury = can’t complete sick role
• Patient may not be legitimate = people with HIV society doesn’t care about them improving condition + return to social roles due to stigma
• Patient gets well quickly = not enter sick role

Question 17

Explain biographical disruption

Answer 17

• Defined by Michael Bury
• There is 2 main types
  1) Disruption of what is taken for granted = daily routine
  2) Disruption of biography = family + career + education
• Different chronic conditions = different experiences
• Social obligations = greater impact

Question 18

Explain negotiation

Answer 18

• Response to disruption
• Patients renegotiate with new ill self
• There are 3 ways:
  1) Coping = cognitive = compare with people worse
  2) Strategy = action by patient = hobby or join group
  3) Style = way of dealing with condition = use humor when talking about condition + take control of condition