Week 1 - Introduction

Question 1

Differentiate chronic illness vs. disease.

Answer 1

Chronic Disease = pathophysiology of a condition
Chronic Illness = human experience of a disease

Care vs. cure

Question 2

Differentiate mortality & morbidity

Answer 2

Mortality = rates of death
Morbidity = rates of disease in population

Question 3

What is the Spoon Theory?

Answer 3

A way of describing chronic illness.
You have limited spoons which you use as payment to complete tasks (ie. breakfast). Often there are not enough spoons to complete all tasks in the day.

This is how chronic illness feels…

Question 4

What does chronicity mean?

Answer 4

The fact that something is chronic ie. lasts a long time

Question 5

Differentiate chronic vs. acute illness

Answer 5

Chronic illness typically develops slowly and lasts months to years.

Acute illness typically develops suddenly and lasts days to weeks.

Question 6

Differentiate signs vs. symptoms

Answer 6

Signs - objective results you can test
Symptoms - subjective patient perception (pain)

Question 7

Probably not testable, but good to know…

How many Canadians are living with at least one chronic condition?

Over 20 years old

Answer 7

50%

Question 8

How does illness perception affect a person?

Answer 8

Influences their behaviours towards illness, coping strategies, and general response to illness.

Week 1 - Slide 20