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People Living With Chronic Illness Are at Risk of Experiencing Stigma and Social Isolation
Introduction
Chronic illness is a term used to describe a group of long-lasting health conditions. In the current world, chronic diseases are comprises of various types of health conditions. Even though chronic diseases such as chickenpox and cold are short-term illnesses, the majority of chronic diseases dont go away that easily. Chronic diseases are not contagious as one cannot catch them from another person through different modes, such as air transmission or sexual transmission. This however does not rule out the genetic transmission of the chronic illness as the tendency to attain them can be passed on from parents to their children. Stigmatization still exists among the many people suffering from chronic illness, despite the various measures taken to curb this trend. This is attributed to the acceptable standards of appearance that have been set by society, and once a person deviates from these standards he or she is labeled different from the common population (Falvo, 2005, p. 13).
Stigmatization and isolation of chronic illness persons
In the modern world, once a person is identified as having a chronic disease, he or she is considered to be a burden as well as an expense to society. This is because of the fact that the disease has no cure or because the person with the illness is old and therefore dependent on society or the people around him or her (Millen and Walker, 2001, p. 91). Stigma is regarded as a universal phenomenon as it is common within different societies. The physical deformity type of stigma is the common stigma that is experienced by persons having a chronic illness. This is due to a change in physical appearance that is caused by the different types of chronic illness. People with chronic illness in one way or the other deviate from what many people within the society consider being normal. A good example is labeling of people with laryngeal cancer as being different once they start talking with the assistance of the electronic voice-box (Larsen and Lubkin, 2009, p. 49).
Conditions such as stroke may not carry immediate effects of stigmatization, however the aftermath effects may reveal the effects. Despite the fact that some chronic conditions may not present themselves outwardly by physical means, the mare knowledge of a person having the chronic illness is enough to cause stigmatization to the person in question (Brooker and Nicol, 2003, p. 1052). Social isolation on the other hand is regarded as a negative state of loneliness that is experienced by the people with chronic illness. The social isolation is not only imposed by others, but also it is can be self imposed. Despite being surrounded by family members and friends, people with chronic illness in one way or another normally feel socially isolated. Some of the notable characteristics of social isolation include: lack of support from close family members and friends, feelings that verbally indicate isolation and lack of contact with loved ones (Neal and Guillet, 2004, p. 7). According to Royer, all the people with chronic illness especially the long-term chronic conditions, are at high risk of experiencing social isolation. This is attributed to the fact that the chronic illness consumes a lot of time and energy. In addition to this, chronically ill individuals are forced to change their previous lifestyles and social worlds (Royer, 1998, p. 67). Stigmatization of the patients in future may lead to discrimination, depreciation and social isolation. Stigma is described as a stumbling block to self acceptance of the illness one is suffering from, as it affects the self-esteem and self- confidence of the patients. In order to avoid stigma, people may prefer to deny the ill conditions they are experiencing which in the long run result to break down to treatment measures. Although measures of curbing stigma are to be encouraged in the society, the buck stops with the patient if he or she is to overcome stigma. However, it is also important to help patients of chronic illness attain their intrinsic worth regardless of their medical conditions (Alexander et al, 2006, p. 1119).
Concepts and theories of chronic illness
Over the years several theories have been establish and developed with the sole aim of enlightening the society on the various effects of chronic illness. According to Parse theory, it is mandatory for illness to be viewed in an individuals dimension. Questions ought to be asked by the health care practitioners to the ill persons rather than relying only on the experience the practitioners have on the illness. Watsons theory on the other hand indicates that, the difficulty as well as the suffering experienced by the ailing persons, opens them up in facing opportunities that will enable them to become humans.
The social action theory is attributed to making one understand matters pertaining to health and illness. This theory has extensively opened up the research topics into experiences attained in terms of health and illness. The theory has covered various studies that include the chronic illness research. Goffmans concept that is associated with stigmatization has been incorporated in a numerous social studies that seek to explore healthy and ill identities in the social world (Hyde, 2004, p. 28).
The shifting perspectives model of chronic illness
The shifting perspectives model of chronic illness is attributed to a metasynthesis of qualitative study that incorporated the chronic illness among the adults and the experience accompanied by the disease. The model inception, challenged majority of the assumptions that were portrayed by the prior models, which included assumptions of a single, liner trajectory of living with a chronic disease. In contrast, the shifting perspective model indicates that living with chronic illness was an ongoing and continually shifting process in which an illness-in the foreground or wellness-in the foreground perspective has specific functions in the persons world. (Paterson, 2001, par 4 & 5).
The model is attributed to Paterson and Thorne, who are regarded to have analyzed 292 qualitative studies that dealt with chronic physical illness. The studies of the two reflected more of an insider dimension rather than outsider. The change achieved was from a traditional perspective of patient-as-client to a perspective of client-as-partner. In the studies conducted focus was shifted from viewing illness as a burden as well as a loss to viewing it as health within illness (Larsen and Lubkin, 2009, p. 35).
In America, the shifting perspective model has been incorporated in researches that deal adolescents who have cancer. In this model the role of the nurse of supporting the appropriate perspective is crucial in facilitation of learning in the various stages of individual illness and especially if the nurse is familiar with this model. The health care professionals such as the nurses are properly equipped in facilitating the shift from an illness to a wellness perspective . Nurses on the other hand, use this model in creating a balance in methods that offers alternative options to the adolescents suffering with cancer in choosing the allocation of time as well as detail they can allocate to the wellness as well as illness responses in studies.
Nurses assistance to the chronic ill persons
It is the role of health care practitioners such as nurses to assist the chronically ill persons to identify, as well as understand their dimensions of the illness. According to Kirk, diabetic patients can receive quick and easy access to treatment if the nurses are incorporated into providing prescriptions of particular diabetes medication. A good example of this practice is indicated by the MidCentral District Health Board in New Zealand that launched the Diabetes Nurse Prescribing project , which incorporates four nurse practitioners specialized in diabetes. These nurses are mandated to manage the diabetics treatment programmes under a close supervision of a medical practitioner (Kirk, 2011, par 2 & 3).
Management of chronic illness
In the general management of the chronic disease, self management is regarded as one of the best management strategy that is used by chronically ill person. In self management, the person with the chronic disease changes his or her lifestyle in order to deal with the diagnosis of the disease. Patients who are chronically ill are often advised to learn how to cope with the disease despite not being given any information on how to actually cope with it. All in all the patients are supposed to take the prescribed medicine as well as practice on how to be an active self manager (Walker et al, 2007, p. 207). Evidence attained from studies suggests that, effective self management skills not only enhance the ill persons self care but also save the health care practitioners time. Self management programs are also attributed to clinical benefits especially for patients with diabetes and hypertension. This therefore indicates that self management education ought to be emphasized among the patients that are chronically ill (Jordan and Osborne, 2007, p. 84).
As chronic illness is attributed to a prolonged condition, it means getting rid of it is not that easy as well as curing it is next to impossible. Chronic illness has been compared to having a career. Managing it does not indicate that one is cured, but indicate ones ability to learning how to live with the illness (Wright and Ellis, 2010, p. 13). Health care systems also have a crucial role to play in the management of chronic diseases. Effective management of the chronic conditions by the health care incorporates a regular as well as a sustainable relationship with the patient. These types of interventions are attributed to completely incorporating the patient in care, tackle the disease and take control of the decision as well as informing the patient on the illness and offering support and advise in his or her self management process of the chronic illness (Stuart, 2008, p. 5).
Conclusion
A chronic ill person is regarded as having a life filled with uncertainty. This is because the patient is not always sure of what awaits him or her in the coming future in terms of diagnosis and treatment of the chronic disease. In addition to this, the patients tend to live with invisible symptoms that are not felt or seen by the people around them apart from themselves. The chronic illness is different from the other illnesses that possess clear-cut symptoms, as it is difficult to define it accurately. Isolation is one of the experiences that are forced on the patients of chronic illness due to the unique physical appearance caused by the illness or the dependency nature of the patients (Toombs et al, 1995, p. xi). The medical community is often involved in chronic illness thus making it expensive for the patients to manage the illness. In addition to this the alteration of ones lifestyle takes effect upon discovering one has the chronic illness. The alterations may range from relationships to recreation activities. In conclusion, factors such as dependability and stigmatization that are attributed to the chronic ill patients sum up chronic illness with two words: unpredictability and uncertainty.
Reference List
Alexander, F. M. et al. 2006. Nursing practice: hospital and home : the adult. PA: Elsevier Ltd.
Brooker, C. and Nicol, Maggie. 2003. Nursing adults: the practice of caring. PA: Elsevier Limited.
Falvo, R. D., 2005. Medical and psychosocial aspects of chronic illness and disability. MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Hyde, A., 2004. Sociology for health professionals in Ireland. Dublin: Institute of Public Adminstration.
Jordan E. J. and Osborne, H. R., 2007. Chronic disease self-management education programs: challenges ahead. Melbourne : MJA RAPID ONLINE PUBLICATION.
Kirk, S., 2011. Nurses to give diabetes meds. Palmerston North: Fairfax New Zealand Limited. Web.
Larsen D. P. and Lubkin, M. I., 2009. Chronic illness: impact and intervention. MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Millen, N. and Walker, C., 2001. Overcoming the stigma of chronic illness: strategies for normalization of a spoiled identity. Maleny: e-content management.
Neal, J. L. and Guillet, E. S., 2004. Care of the adult with a chronic illness or disability: a team approach. PA: Mosby, inc.
Paterson, L. B. 2001. The shifting perspectives model of chronic illness. Indianapolis: Journal of Nursing Scholarship.
Stuart, L., 2008. MANAGING CHRONIC CONDITIONS: Optimizing Health Throughout Life.VA: Family Health International.
Toombs, S. K., 1995. Chronic illness: from experience to policy. Indiana: Indiana University Press.
Walker, J. et al., 2007. Psychology for Nurses and the Caring Professions. NY: Open University Press.
Wright, H. N. and Ellis, L., 2010. Coping with Chronic Illness. Oregon: Harvest House Publishers.
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