Chronic and Acute Illness Overview

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Questions and Answers

What are key strategies a nurse can implement to improve outcomes for patients with persistent illness?

Nurses can utilize care coordination frameworks, provide holistic support, and actively involve patients in their care plans.

How can the components of the uncertainty theory be applied to nursing practice?

By recognizing and addressing the uncertainties that patients face, nurses can offer reassurance and clear information, enhancing patient confidence.

Describe the importance of an organized transition program for patients with complex illness.

An organized transition program ensures continuity of care, reduces readmission rates, and helps patients adjust to new health management strategies.

What actions can a nurse take to coordinate care effectively for a patient with complex needs?

Nurses can establish clear communication among the healthcare team, create a care plan that addresses all patient needs, and frequently reassess the patient's condition. Signup and view all the answers

What challenges might patients with persistent illness face during their treatment and how can nursing strategies help?

Patients may face emotional distress, medication management issues, and lifestyle adjustments; nursing strategies can include counseling, education, and support groups. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary source of suffering for individuals living with chronic illness?

The loss of self Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between comorbidity and multimorbidity?

Comorbidity refers to the presence of acute and chronic conditions together, while multimorbidity involves multiple chronic conditions that may not be related. Signup and view all the answers

How does chronic illness affect the morbidity and mortality rates within populations?

Chronic illness contributes to higher morbidity and mortality rates. Signup and view all the answers

What role does genetic testing play in chronic illness management?

Genetic testing can lead to preventative strategies and earlier interventions. Signup and view all the answers

What psychosocial factors can influence the experience of individuals with chronic illness?

Factors like mood disorders, stigma, and self-efficacy significantly affect their experience. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it essential for healthcare providers to listen to patients with chronic illness?

Patients often know their conditions best and can provide valuable insights for their care. Signup and view all the answers

How can chronic illness lead to complex self-care needs?

Multiple chronic conditions require intricate management and frequent healthcare appointments. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the biopsychosocial model in understanding disability associated with chronic illness?

It recognizes that disability arises from a combination of medical, social, and psychological factors. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of individuals aged 80 and older are likely to have three or more chronic illnesses?

50% Signup and view all the answers

How can stigma affect the care of patients with chronic illnesses?

Stigma can lead to unequal treatment and biases in healthcare delivery. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus during the 'illness in the foreground' stage of the Shifting Perspectives Model?

The main focus is on the loss, sickness, and burden associated with the illness. Signup and view all the answers

How can nurses assist patients in creating harmony between their identity and disease during the 'wellness in the foreground' stage?

Nurses can educate patients about their disease, promote self-management, and help connect them to support networks. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between adherence and compliance in the context of chronic illness management?

Adherence refers to the patient agreeing with the healthcare team's treatment plan, while compliance suggests following it without question. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important for nurses to recognize emotional distress in patients with chronic illness?

Recognizing emotional distress is essential as it can lead to feelings of loss of control, loneliness, and pain. Signup and view all the answers

What role does patient self-management play in optimizing health outcomes for chronic illness?

Self-management allows patients to take control of their health, leading to improved physical results, mental health, and quality of life. Signup and view all the answers

What should nurses do if a patient appears non-compliant with their treatment plan?

Nurses should explore the reasons behind the patient's non-adherence rather than labeling them as non-compliant. Signup and view all the answers

In what way can storytelling benefit patients coping with chronic illness?

Storytelling can help patients share their experiences, reduce feelings of isolation, and foster connections with others. Signup and view all the answers

What is one strategy nurses can use to enhance effective teaching methods for patients managing chronic illness?

Nurses can develop effective teaching methods by being alert to potential barriers that patients may face. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Chronic Illness

Chronic illness refers to health conditions that persist over long periods, often limiting participation and activity.
Loss of self is a major source of suffering for people with chronic illness.
Chronic illness contributes to:
- Morbidity: Disease rates within a population.
- Mortality: Death rates within a population.
Chronic illness prevalence is significantly higher among Canada's Indigenous population.
- Commonly diagnosed conditions include: diabetes, hepatitis C, HIV, heart disease, and hypertension.

Acute and Chronic Illness

Acute illness is common on top of chronic illness.
Comorbidity: Two or more unrelated disorders where one condition exacerbates the other.
- Example: Pneumonia (acute) and Multiple Sclerosis (chronic).
- Understanding the underlying chronic illness is crucial for treating acute illness.
Multimorbidity: Two or more chronic medical conditions in the same person, may not be related.
- Example: Diabetes, asthma, and osteoporosis.
- Associated with decreased quality of life, polypharmacy, and complex medical regimens.
- Requires high nursing skills to manage the complexities.
- Optimal health is challenging to achieve.
- Can lead to complex self-care needs, restricted mobility, and multiple healthcare appointments, potentially leading to lack of engagement and non-adherence to prescriptions.
- Increased emergency room usage may occur.

Factors Contributing to Chronic Illness

Key determinants of health play a role.
Risk factors:
- Modifiable: Factors that can be changed.
- Nonmodifiable: Factors that cannot be changed.
Role of genetics:
- Genetic testing can enable preventive strategies for early intervention and prevention.
Role of aging:
- Increased likelihood of developing at least one chronic condition with age.
- Over 50% of individuals aged 80 and older have three or more chronic illnesses.

Factors to Consider with Chronic Illness

Associated disability:
- Medical: Disability is medically defined.
- Social: Disability is a social construct, not an inherent attribute of individuals.
- Biopsychosocial: This is considered the best model by the WHO, as it acknowledges both medical and social aspects.
  - If the environment is adjusted to individual needs, limitations on quality of life can be mitigated.
Psychosocial dimensions:
- The sick role: Patients are viewed as victims of their illness.
  - This is true in the context of receiving care and treatment.
  - It's essential to treat patients as human beings, listen to their stories, and respect their treatment choices.
- Self-efficacy: Crucial for patients managing their conditions independently.
- Health-related hardiness (HRH): Ability to experience high levels of stress without falling ill.
- Mood disorders: Can trigger depression, affecting one-third of patients. Not always psychological in origin, often linked to inflammation.
- Fatigue: A highly distressing symptom for many with chronic illness, causing frustration and misunderstandings from others.
- Stigma: Patients may be labeled based on their illness and treatments.
  - This can lead to errors in care delivery.
  - It can create an unequal power imbalance between nurses and patients.
- Quality of life (QoL) and health-related quality of life (HRQL): Perceptions of physical and mental health status, reflecting key variations in health status.

Living with Chronic Illness

Loss of self is a primary source of suffering.
Normalization and/or covering: Attempts to manage illness in everyday life.
Patients are the expert: They know more about their illness than healthcare professionals, emphasizing the importance of active listening.
Ask yourself: Am I treating the patient the way I would want to be treated?

Chronic Illness and Caregiving

Caregiver burden: The physical, emotional, and financial strain on caregivers.
Important to understand caregiver burden: This can help nurses identify needs and provide support for both patients and caregivers.

Shifting Perspectives Model of Chronic Illness

Continuously shifting process: Represents the dynamic nature of illness and wellness.
Illness in the foreground:
- Focus: Loss, sickness, and the burden associated with illness.
- Occurs during initial diagnosis or exacerbation of illness.
- Nurse's role: Provide support and manage acute illness.
Wellness in the foreground:
- The person harmonizes their identity with their disease.
- Nurse's role:
  - Educate the patient about their condition and self-management strategies.
  - Create a supportive environment for patient understanding and management.
  - Identify illness-specific patterns of response.
  - Facilitate connections with others for support and shared experiences.
  - Recognize emotional distress during acute exacerbations, which can lead to feelings of loss of control, loneliness, pain, and loss of dignity.
    - Treat the person, not just the illness.
  - Acknowledge patient strength, listen to their stories, and help them return to wellness.

Chronic Illness and Optimizing Health Outcomes

Self-management: Patients take control of their health.
- Linked to better physical, mental, and overall quality of life outcomes.
- Nurses are responsible for building partnerships with patients through open, caring, ongoing, and mutually responsive communication.
Compliance vs. Adherence:
- Adherence: Patients actively agree with the healthcare team's treatment plan.
- Instead of labeling patients as "non-compliant," investigate the reasons behind non-adherence to better support their needs.
Coping with chronic illness:
- Nurses play a supportive role in identifying coping strategies and promoting healthy adaptation.
- Focus on individual needs and preferred coping mechanisms.
Nursing care:
- Partnership between nurse and patient (and caregivers):
  - Be vigilant for potential barriers to successful self-management.
  - Utilize effective teaching methods.

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Description

This quiz explores chronic and acute illnesses, highlighting their definitions, impact on health, and the concept of comorbidity. Participants will learn about how chronic illnesses like diabetes and hypertension affect individuals, particularly among Indigenous populations in Canada, and the implications for acute illnesses. Gain a deeper understanding of the health landscape shaped by these conditions.