PRESENTED BY- MR.

RONY XAVIER
 \

ILLNESS

Abnormal process in which the persons level of

functioning is changed when compared to the previous
level.

Illness is of two types:-

-Acute
-Chronic
 \

Acute illness is generally has a rapid onset of

symptoms and last only a relatively short time. some
acute illness are life threatening, many don’t require
medical attention.

Eg.pain,fever
 \

Chronic illness is a permanent change -it causes, or is

caused by irreversible alteration in normal anatomy
and physiology. It require special patient education for
rehabilitation. It require a long period of care and
support.

Eg. Heart problem, diabetes etc

 \

ILLNESS BEHAVIOUR

People who are ill generally adopt illness

behaviour. These behaviour affect how people
monitor their bodies, define and interpret their
symptoms, take remedial actions and use the health
care systems.
 \

Variables influencing illness behaviour:-

➢External variables
➢Internal variables
 \

It include visibility of symptoms, social group,

cultural background, economic variables, accessibility
of health care and social support.
 \

-It include patients perception of symptoms and the

nature of illness.
-If they perceive symptoms as descriptive, they seek
medical care.
-Patient with acute illness, seek medical care and
adhere readily with therapy.
-Patient with chronic illness, not motivated to adhere
with therapy
 \

An illness of a family member affect the function of

the entire family
 \

➢Individual’s behavioral and emotional reactions depend on

the nature of illness, the patients attitude towards it, the
reaction of others to it and the variables of illness behaviour.

➢Short term , non life threatening illnesses evolve few

behavioural changes in the functioning of the patient and
family .

➢Eg. A husband and father who has a cold, lack the energy
and patience to spend time in the family activities and is
irritable and prefers not to interact with the family ( its a
behavioural change, but doesn’t last long)
➢severe illness have more emotional and behavioural change.
 \

➢Body image is the subjective concept of physical

appearance. Some illnesses result in the change in physical
appearance. The reaction is depend up on the type of change (
eg. Loss of a limb), adaptive capacity of the person, rate at
which change take place, and the support services available.

➢Initially the change shocks the patient. As the patient and

family recognize the reality, they become anxious. As the
patient acknowledge the change, they accept the loss. During
rehabilitation, they learn how to adapt the change.
 \

➢Self concept is your mental self image of all aspect

of your personality.

➢A patient whose self concept changes, because of

illness is sometimes no longer able to meet family
expectations, leading to tension or conflict. As a result,
family member change their interaction with the
patient.
 \

➢people may have many roles in life such as wage earner,

decision maker etc. when the illness occur, the role change.
Such a change is either short term or long term .

➢Patient adjust more easily to short term change, but guidance

and counseling is required for long term change.
 \

➢Risk factors are often suggestive, ie, presence of a

risk factor does not imply that the disease will occur,
and in its absence diseases will not occur.

➢Risk factors may be causative (eg, smoking for CA

lung), contributory (lack of physical exercise for
CHD) or predictive (eg, illiteracy for prenatal
mortality).
 \

PROMINENT RISK FACTORS

➢Heart disease- smoking, high BP, high cholesterol ,

diabetes, obesity
➢Cancer-smoking, alcohol, radiation, pollution,
dietary factors
➢Stroke- smoking, high BP, high cholesterol

➢Motor vehicle accidents-alcohol, speed, non use of

seat belt.
➢ Cirrhosis of liver-alcohol
 \

RISK GROUP/TARGET GROUP

1. BIOLOGICAL SITUATION

➢ Age group - eg. Toddler more prone to accidents.

➢ Sex - eg. Male more prone to Ca lung.
➢ Physiological state - eg. Anemia is common in
pregnant mother.
➢ Genetic factors - eg. Family history of genetic
disorder like mental retardation, down syndrome,
diabetes
➢ Other health conditions - eg.high blood pressure
lead to stroke
 \

➢Rural (malnutrition), urban (CAD).

➢Living conditions, over crowding (asthma,

nutritional deficiency).

➢Environment (cholera due to impure water)

 \

➢Social class (high class more prone to CAD).

➢Ethnic and cultural group.
➢Family disruption (stress), education (infant
mortality rate), housing ( asthma).
➢Customs ,habit, behaviour ( smoking, lack of
exercise, over eating, drug addiction).
➢Access to health service (rural people).
➢Lifestyle and attitude(lack of exercise).