Dealing with Chronic Illness in Childhood

1984 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 67-73
Author(s):  
Donald R. Swartz
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Chronic Illness ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
Chronic Illnesses ◽  
Her Family ◽  
Healthy Development ◽  
Children With Chronic Illnesses ◽  
Mind Set ◽  
Specific Medical Condition

Most pediatricians treat Children who are well or who, at worst, have an acute but Curable illness. Children with chronic illnesses don't fit. Our appointment schedules aren't structured to deal with them and they clash with our "health and normality" mind-set. Chronic diseases, incurable and possibly lethal, conflict with our need to heal, and the obvious pain and dismay of the parents is painful and dismaying to us as well. Practice might be more comfortable without them. Yet no group of patients can benefit more from the understanding of healthy development and knowledge of management of disease that are combined in today's pediatrician. The child with chronic illness is not just a case of a specific medical condition; he or she is also a child, with all of the development, psychosocial, and physical needs that are characteristic of children in general. This discussion will focus on the ways in which a child and his or her family may be affected by chronic disease, and what the responses of each to chronic disease are likely to be. The physician's responses will also be examined, as well as how the physician caring for a child with chronic illness can facilitate the adjustments and adaptations that will allow the child and his or her family to attain their greatest potential for a normal and fulfilling life.

scholarly journals A "Not able to live anymore": Reaction of the grieving process of the elderly dealing with chronic disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-34
Author(s):  
Bahtiar Bahtiar ◽  
Sahar Sahar ◽  
Junaiti Junaiti ◽  
Wiarsih Wiarsih ◽  
Wiwin Wiwin
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Chronic Illness ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Nursing Intervention ◽  
Prolonged Treatment ◽  
Descriptive Phenomenology ◽  
Grieving Process ◽  
Disease Condition ◽  
Psychological Reaction

Background: Psychological problems have an impact on the elderly with chronic diseases thus affecting health status. Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the response of the elderly in dealing with chronic diseases. Methods: This study uses a descriptive phenomenology method. The population in this study were elderly who lived in Makassar City and had a chronic disease. This study illustrates the experience of 13 older adults aged 60-78 years who experience chronic disease. Results: A response felt by the elderly with chronic diseases for years, a series of grieving processes. The grieving process felt by the elderly is a psychological reaction from the suffering experienced due to symptoms and complaints of chronic illness. The series of grieving process reactions that are displayed are denial, anger, bargaining, despair, and resignation. Conclusion: The old experience with denial, anger, bargaining during chronic illness is normal. Also, the elderly could experience a desperate reaction during chronic illness due to the prolonged treatment process, and resignation reaction was a sign that the elderly were aware of the disease condition which they experienced. Recommendation: nursing intervention is needed related to grieving issues that include aspects of self, physical, social and spiritual for elderly with chronic illness. Keyword: grieving, chronic illness, elderly, family

scholarly journals Organizing Preconception Care for Women Suffering from Chronic Diseases: Patients’ View on the Role of General Practitioners: A Qualitative Study.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Admiraal ◽  
Marit Schonewille ◽  
Mireina Eugenia ◽  
Lydia Schonewille ◽  
Annemarie Mulders ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Preconception Care ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Chronic Medical Condition ◽  
Medical Specialist ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Facilitators And Barriers

Abstract Background: Women suffering from chronic diseases should preferably receive specialized individual preconception care (PCC) by an obstetrician before becoming pregnant. For most chronic diseases it is important that the disease is in remission or under control before conception, aiming for optimal pregnancy outcome. Especially, amongst other considerations, medication use should be monitored for toxicity before starting a pregnancy. Specific case findings followed by a referral to an obstetrician for specialized individual PCC by a general practitioner (GP) could be a solution to improve the uptake of PCC. The aim of this study was to explore patients’ views on PCC organized by general practitioners (GP) for women suffering from a chronic disease.Methods: We recruited participants via a public Facebook message. We asked women suffering from a chronic medical condition, aged 18-42 years, living in the Netherlands and planning to become pregnant to contact the researcher by a personal message. Once contacted, women received additional information about the aim of the study. After reading the study information, women were asked for participation and a digital informed consent was sent. Thereafter, an appointment for a semi-structured interview by telephone, the study intervention, was made. The interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and member checked. The transcripts were coded and analysed on facilitators and barriers for preconception care by GP’s, using NVivo 10.Results: 45 women replied to the public Facebook message. All women were contacted by the researcher. Finally, 23 women consented to participate in a semi-structured interview by telephone. This resulted in a heterogeneous study population. The participants indicated a range of facilitators and barriers for organizing PCC via the GP. The GP was viewed to be trustworthy, to have knowledge about their medical history and to have a coordinating role but limited knowledge about pregnancy. Patients preferred a referral from the GP to an obstetrician to have a face-to-face preconception consultation together with their medical specialist. Conclusions: According to women suffering from a chronic disease, PCC is ideally given by an obstetrician and medical specialist in a face-to-face consultation whereby the GP has a coordinating role.Trial registration: not applicable.

scholarly journals Chronic illness and quality of life

2000 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 10-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Eales ◽  
A. V. Stewart ◽  
T. D. Noakes
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Chronic Illness ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Major Objective ◽  
Acceptable Quality ◽  
Successful Rehabilitation ◽  
Life Evaluations

The major objective of medical care is to preserve life. If patients cannot be cured and are left with residual chronic diseases then the aim is to provide them with the means to lead a life of quality within the confines of their disease. Rehabilitation in chronic disease means restoring or creating a life of acceptable quality. This is achieved by restoring the patient to optimal physiological and psychological health compatible with the extent of the disease and in doing so improve the quality of life. Improved quality of life is the best indicator of successful rehabilitation. Patients with chronic diseases are increasingly expected to become partners when decisions are made regarding their therapy and therefor their evaluation of the outcome is of great importance. There are a number of shortcomings with quality of life evaluations and the most important one is that it does not seem to be adequately defined. Another major problem is that this evaluation usually focuses on aspects of physical function and few studies include subjective indicators. It is generally felt that the opinion of the spouse or caregiver should be included.

Social Class and Chronic Illness

1973 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 357-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick W. Conover
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Chronic Illness ◽  
Social Class ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
National Health ◽  
Health Survey ◽  
National Health Survey ◽  
Central Research ◽  
Income Category

This paper traces a three-stage history of theorization on the causal relationship between social class and chronic illness, focusing in particular on the contributions of Kadushin and Mechanic. Five areas of agreement between Kadushin and Mechanic are presented as a basis for further analysis: (1) the importance of data from the National Health Survey; (2) the necessity for controlling for age as an important variable; (3) the more severe measures of chronic diseases, as shown by criteria of activity limitation or work loss, are clearly class related, with the greatest magnitude of change between the lowest income category and the next highest category; (4) there are no data from other studies that can be counted as opposing the above evidence; (5) there is agreement that it is more likely that persons will accurately report more severe episodes of chronic illness than less severe episodes. Two central research questions are then addressed: What is the true shape of the relationship between socioeconomic status and chronic disease? What are the most reasonable of the possible causes of this relationship? Analysis of new material from the National Health Survey is presented in answer to these questions. The utility of these data for this purpose is defended. Certain relationships are noted: For whites and non-whites, with age adjusted or not adjusted, there is a strong relationship between income and measures of chronic disease. With a threefold division of the income category, the magnitude of the differences between income levels is large. These relationships hold over a wide range of specific chronic diseases. The conclusion is drawn that Kadushin's hypothesis of overreaction to illness by the lower classes is of little significance. More study is needed of the downwardly mobile effects of chronic illness. The effects of poor health and low socioeconomic status are presumed to be circular.

A STUDY OF THE SELF-CONCEPTS OF 9–14 YEAR-OLD CHILDREN WITH ACUTE AND CHRONIC DISEASES

2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gülümser Gültekin ◽  
Gülen Baran
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Illness ◽  
Treatment Period ◽  
General Information ◽  
Acute Illness ◽  
Chronic Illnesses ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Medical Department ◽  
Children With Chronic Illnesses ◽  
Length Of Hospitalization

This study identified the level of self-concept in children with acute and chronic illnesses and determined the factors that may influence their self-concepts. The study sample includes 154 children (77 children with chronic illness, 77 children with acute illness). The data were collected via the General Information Form and the Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale for Children (Piers & Harris, 1969). The data were analyzed via MANOVA, ANOVA and the Duncan Test. The findings indicate that self-concept scores vary, depending on the age of the child (p < .01) and the age of the mother (p < .05). Furthermore, for children with chronic illnesses, the medical department (p < .05), diagnosis (p < .05), treatment period (p < .05), and length of hospitalization (p < .01) all affected self-concept scores.

Adolescents' Perception of Epilepsy Compared With Other Chronic Diseases: “Through a Teenager's Eyes”

2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 214-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Cheung ◽  
Elaine Wirrell
Keyword(s):  
Down Syndrome ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Chronic Illnesses ◽  
Cognitively Normal ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Parental Perspectives ◽  
Physical Impact

Adolescent perception of physical and social impact of chronic illness was assessed to determine (1) if there is greater prejudice toward epilepsy than other chronic disease and (2) if adolescents with chronic disease have less prejudice toward similarly affected peers with all types of chronic disease or just their specific chronic disease. Cognitively normal teens aged 13 to 18 years without chronic disease ( n = 41) and with epilepsy ( n = 32), asthma ( n = 38), diabetes ( n = 21), and migraine ( n = 17) were interviewed in the outpatient clinics of a tertiary care pediatric center regarding their perceptions of the physical and social impact of eight chronic diseases (epilepsy, asthma, diabetes, Down syndrome, arthritis, migraine, leukemia, human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infection). Epilepsy was perceived to have a more adverse physical impact than all chronic illnesses except Down syndrome. The perception was that it more frequently caused mental handicap, injured the afflicted individual and bystanders, and led to death. Epilepsy was also perceived to have a more negative social impact, particularly on behavior, honesty, popularity, adeptness at sports, and fun. Significantly more adolescents expressed reluctance to befriend peers with epilepsy, both from their own and their perceived parental perspectives. Having a chronic disease did not generally alter the adolescents' perceptions of peers with chronic disease. However, cases with epilepsy ranked this disease to have less social impact than teens with other chronic diseases. In conclusion, adolescents consider epilepsy to have a greater physical and social impact than most chronic diseases. Educational efforts should focus on the “normality” of most persons with epilepsy and emphasize the low risk of injury when proper first aid is followed. ( J Child Neurol 2006;21:214—222; DOI 10.2310/7010.2006.00053).

scholarly journals Caregivers’ burden of caring for children with chronic illnesses at a tertiary health facility in southern Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-114
Author(s):  
Gracia Ker Eke ◽  
Nsirimobu Ichendu Paul
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Health Facility ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Chronic Illnesses ◽  
P Value ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Southern Nigeria ◽  
General Strain ◽  
Children With Chronic Illnesses

Background: The responsibilities perceived by caregivers of children with chronic diseases can impose significant burden on their physical, emotional and mental well-being. Objective: To explore the burden of caregivers of children with chronic illnesses at a tertiary-care health facility in southern Nigeria, in order to devise effective ways of reducing them. Methodology: It was a descriptive cross-sectional survey amongst parents/caregivers of children with chronic illnesses in the Children’s Outpatient clinics /wards and emergency room, who presented for care and/or follow-up visits between October and December 2020. A validated Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS) that assesses the level of burden in five domains: general strain, isolation, disappointment, emotional involvement and environment, was used to obtain data. Caregivers’ and the children’ socio-demographic characteristics were also ascertained and compared with the level of burden. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant. Result: A total of 109 caregivers completed the questionnaire. Half (n=55; 50.5%) of the caregivers were aged 30-39years; 88 (80.7%) were females; 58 (53.2%) had post-secondary education and 51 (46.8%) were self-employed. Of the 109 children studied, 70 (64.2%) were males and the commonest diagnosis was sickle cell anaemia (SCA) (n=62; 56.9%) followed by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) disease (n=35; 32.1%). The age at diagnosis was 1-5years in 70 (64.2%) of cases while 76 (69.7%) of them had received care for 1-5years. The mean caregiving burden score was highest in disappointment (2.0) and lowest in the domain of isolation (1.5), while the overall mean score was 1.7 (SD=0.6). There was a statistically significant relationship between the caregivers’ age and all the domains studied except the general strain, while the other socio-demographic variables had varying significance with the different domains of burden. Conclusion: Severe burden of caregiving was experienced by more caregivers in the domains of disappointment and general strain while the isolation domain experienced the lowest frequency of caregivers with severe burden. Improving social support and advocacy to stakeholders, including the government to take over the financing of medical expenses of children with chronic diseases will reduce the burden of care experienced by their caregivers.

scholarly journals Efek Penyakit Kronis terhadap Gangguan Mental Emosional

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 309
Author(s):  
Giri Widakdo ◽  
Besral Besral
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Chronic Illness ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Emotional Disorders ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Emotional Disorder ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Chronic Disease Risk

Hasil Riset Kesehatan Dasar tahun 2007 menunjukkan 11,6% penduduk Indonesia berumur 15 tahun ke atas mengalami gangguan mental emosional. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui efek penyakit kronis terhadap gangguan mental emosional. Desain penelitian ini adalah potong lintang mengggunakan data Riskesdas tahun 2007. Sebanyak 660.452 responden berusia di atas 15 tahun yang tidak mengalami gangguan jiwa dijadikan sampel. Gangguan mental emosional dinyatakan ada jika responden mem-punyai paling tidak enam dari 20 gangguan. Penyakit kronis seperti tuberculosis (TB) paru, hepatitis, jantung, diabetes, kanker, dan stroke diukur melalui wawancara yang didasarkan pada diagnosis petugas kesehatan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa dari sepuluh penderita penyakit kronis, dua sampai lima penderita akan mengalami gangguan mental emosional. Analisis regresi logistik multivariat memperlihatkan bahwa risiko gangguan mental emosional semakin tinggi bersamaan dengan semakin banyak jumlah penyakit kronis yang diderita oleh responden. Responden yang menderita satu penyakit kronis berisiko 2,6 kali lebih besar untuk mengalami gangguan mental emosional, yang menderita dua penyakit kronis berisiko 4,6 kali, yang menderita tiga penyakit kronis atau lebih berisiko 11 kali. Kementerian Kesehatan disarankan untuk mengembangkan standar pelayanan penyakit kronis terkait dengan pengurangan dampak pada gangguan mental emosional dan dibentuknya tim bimbingan teknis pelayanan penyakit kronis.Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) year 2007 showed that 11.6 percent of Indonesia’s population aged 15 years and above suffering from mental emotional disorder. This study aimed to examine the effects of chronic illness to the mental emotional disorders. A cross-sectional study was performed that used Riskesdas 2007 data. Atotal of 660,452 respondents aged 15 years and over who are mentally health become sample of this study. Mental emotional disorders exist if they have at least six of the 20 disorder. Chronic diseases such as pulmonary tuberculosis, hepatitis, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and stroke were measured based on diagnosis by health pro-fesional. The results showed that out of ten respondents with chronic illness, aproximately two to five will suffering from mental emotional disorder. Multivariat logistic regression analysis shows that the risk of developing mental emotional disorders higher as more number of chronic illnesses suffered by the respondent. Respondents suffering from one chronic disease were 2.6 times greater risk for emotional mental disorder, suffering from two chronic dis-ease have risk 4.6 times, which had three or more chronic disease risk have risk 11 times. It is suggested that the Ministry of Health to develop a standard of care of chronic diseases associated with reducing impact on the mental emotional disorders and establishment of teams for technical guidance chronic disease care.

Quality of life in chronic disease rehabilitation

2004 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 317-325
Author(s):  
Peter Hobson ◽  
Jolyon Meara
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Chronic Illness ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Musculoskeletal Diseases ◽  
Sugar Content ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Chronically Ill ◽  
World Health ◽  
Chronic Lung Diseases

In 2002 the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that worldwide, deaths due to chronic diseases were accountable for around 30 million people. An earlier report by the WHO revealed that the leading causes of deaths due to chronic disease were cardiovascular disease (17 million), cancers (7 million), chronic lung diseases (4 million) and diabetes (approximately 1 million). In developed nations, the most frequently reported risk factors associated with chronic diseases are exposure to tobacco products (12.2%), hypertension (10.9%), alcohol consumption (9.2%), elevated cholesterol (7.6%), and obesity (7.4%), unhealthy diets that include high saturated fat and sugar content (3.9%) and sedentary lifestyle (3.3%). In view of the demographic shifts, and the strong association with aging and chronic disease, it is estimated that worldwide, within the next two decades, the predicted number of deaths due to chronic illness will rise to around 50 million people per year. Amongst elderly populations in particular, circulatory diseases, respiratory diseases, mental health problems, and musculoskeletal diseases are frequently cited as causes of chronic illness. Population estimates in the UK suggest that around 70% of people by the age of 80 report some type of health-related disability. Patients with chronic conditions will often have multiple co-morbidities with complicated disease management which will necessitate considerable contributions from their caregivers. The caregivers of the chronically ill are often unpaid family members who are frequently placed under considerable stress, and as a result can themselves suffer from functional decline, depression, isolation and loneliness.

scholarly journals CHRONIC ILLNESSES AND FATIGUE IN OLDER INDIVIDUALS: A LITERATURE REVIEW

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S319-S319
Author(s):  
Maral Torossian ◽  
Cynthia Jacelon
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Chronic Illness ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
The United States ◽  
Chronic Illnesses ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Measurement Scales

Abstract In the United states, 60% of adults have one chronic disease and 40% have at least two chronic diseases. Fatigue is a commonly reported symptom in individuals with chronic illnesses, the prevalence of which ranges between 40-74%. It is associated with multiple risk factors and has a tremendous impact on quality of life, social functioning, mood, motivation and cognition. Despite its high prevalence, the relationship between fatigue and chronic illness has not been well explored. Accordingly, the focus of this synthesis of literature is to explore fatigue-associated factors and their relation to chronic disease. The databases searched were CINAHL, PubMed, PsychInfo and Web of Science, where the following keywords were used: “Chronic disease” OR “Chronic illness” OR “Chronic conditions”, “Fatigue”, “Elderly” OR “Older adults” OR “Seniors” OR “Geriatrics”. The synthesis resulted in four themes: understanding the concept of fatigue, factors related to fatigue, activity and fatigue, and self-management of fatigue. There were some inconsistencies in the findings among research studies which were addressed, in addition to the strengths and weaknesses of some of the fatigue measurement scales used. This literature review integrates findings about fatigue in chronic illnesses in various aspects, in the population of individuals who are of 65 age or older. The four emerged themes are of value to individuals with similar characteristics as the selected population, as well as to health care providers and researchers who may address the inconsistent findings and provide a strong evidence for best practice.

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