Week 1

Question 1

Disease vs Illness

Answer 1

Disease is the pathophysiology

Illness is the individual experience

Question 2

What things define chronic illness?

Answer 2

Permanency
Residual disability
Non-pathological alteration

Question 3

What contributes to chronicity?

Answer 3

The degree of disability and the person’s perception of the illness
(Both affect how “chronic” a person feels)

Question 4

Why does the experience of chronicity matter to us as nurses?

Answer 4

It affects empowerment, social isolation, QOL, and coping in our clients; culture, family, and past experiences (of the nurse and the client) all influence the illness experience

Question 5

What is the role of the nurse in the illness experience?

Answer 5

Supporter, care provider, educator, navigator, and coach

Question 6

What are the four levels that chronic illness impacts?

Answer 6

Patient, family, caregivers, and economy

Question 7

What are some aspects of the patient that are affected by chronic illness?

Answer 7

Physical (mobility, energy)
Social (supports)
Financial (employment, access to medications)
Psychological (mental health)

Question 8

What are some barriers to accessing chronic illness care?

Answer 8

Long wait times, geographical location, insurance, culture/beliefs, literacy/education

Question 9

Patients may have some risk factors towards certain chronic illness; these factors can be categorized as modifiable or non-modifiable - what are some examples of each?

Answer 9

Modifiable - diet, exercise, environment

Non-Modifiable - genetics

Question 10

How does a longer life span relate to rates of chronic illness?

Answer 10

People are living longer, which means that they have more chances to develop disease that can lead to chronicity and long-term support needs