1 Concepts of Nursing NUR 123 Concepts of Health & Illness First Lecture

2 Definitions of Health States l Health : a state of complete physical, mental, and social well being, not merely the absence of disease (WHO). l Illness : it is an abnormal process in which the person’s level of functioning is changed compared with a previous level. l Wellness : an active state, oriented toward maximizing the potential of the individual.

3 Causes of disease l Inherited genetic defects l Exposure to such factors as viruses l Biologic agents or toxins l Physical agents such as chemicals l Generalized tissue responses to injury or irritation l Physiological and emotional reaction to stress l Excessive or insufficient production of body secretion (hormones, enzymes)

4 Copyright 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Dimensions of Wellness

5 The Human Dimensions of Health l Physical dimension — genetic inheritance, age, developmental level, race, and gender. l Emotional dimension — how the mind affects body function and responds to body conditions. l Intellectual dimension — cognitive abilities, educational background, and past experiences.

6 The Human Dimensions of Health l Environmental dimension — housing, sanitation, climate, pollution of air, food, and water. l Sociocultural dimension — economic level, lifestyle, family, and culture. l Spiritual dimension — spiritual beliefs and values.

7 Models of Health and Illness l The agent-host-environment model The agent, host, and environment interact in ways that create risk factors.

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9 Models of Health and Illness l The health-illness continuum: Views health as a constantly changing state with high- level wellness and death on opposite sides of a continuum

10 Types of Illness l Acute illness –Generally has a rapid onset of symptoms and lasts only a relatively short time –Examples: appendicitis, diarrhea, common cold l Chronic illness –A broad term that encompasses many different physical and mental alterations –Examples: diabetes mellitus, lung disease, M.I

11 Stages of Illness Behavior l Stage 1: Experiencing symptoms. l Stage 2: Assuming the sick role. l Stage 3: Medical Care Contact. l Stage 4: Assuming a dependent role. l Stage 5: Achieving recovery and rehabilitation

12 Five Stages of Accepting an Illness l Denial l Anger l Fear l Grief l Acceptance

13 Five Stages of Accepting an Illness l Not everyone goes through these stages in the same order. l If you believe that you are stuck in one of the first four stages permanently, you may want to consult with a therapist.

14 Five Stages of Accepting an Illness Anger l Anger is normal and can take a long time to work through. l Sometimes a small part of anger stays with you throughout the entire illness.

15 Five Stages of Accepting an Illness Fear l This is the most important stage to work through. Grief l Grief can cause feelings of inadequacy and lead to withdrawal and isolation.

16 Levels of Disease Prevention Level of disease Prevention DescriptionExample Primary prevention Prevent the occurrence of disease Health Teaching diet, exercise, immunizations Secondary prevention Early detection and intervention Screening procedure Tertiary prevention Prevent further deterioration (rehabilitation) Medications, surgical treatment, rehabilitation