MODULE 3F – CONCEPT OF HEALTH

HEALTH o appear abruptly and subsides quickly

• is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and o fever, cough, colds, diarrhea etc.
not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. (WHO,1948) • CHRONIC
• Talcott Parsons (1951) - conceptualized health as the ability to o gradual, that lasts a long time, irreversible
maintain normal roles. o usually, 6 months or longer
• American Nurses Association (ANA) – defined health as a o cancer, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, arthritis
dynamic state of being in which developmental and behavioral • STAGES OF ILLNESS (Suchman, 1979)
potential of an individual is realized to the fullest extent possible.
STAGE 1: Symptom Experience
• Pender et al (2006) – suggest that for many people, conditions
of life rather than pathological states are what define health.
STAGE 2: Assumption of the sick role
HEALTH BEHAVIOR
• can be positive or negative
STAGE 3: Medical Care Contact
• Positive health behaviors – are activities related to maintaining,
attaining or regaining good health and preventing illness.
o EXAMPLES: Sleeping early for 8hrs-10hrs, STAGE 4: Dependent Client Role
immunization to protect the body from diseases,
eating fruits and vegetables.
STAGE 5: Recovery of Rehabilitation
• Negative health behaviors - are practices actually or potentially
harmful to one’s health.
o EXAMPLES: smoking and drinking alcohol, STAGE 1: SYMPTOM EXPERIENCE
taking harmful or prohibited drugs, consuming
unhealthy foods
• The person is aware that something is wrong
ILLNESS • Recognizing one or more symptoms such as fever, rashes,
pain etc.
• is the inability of an individual’s adaptive responses to maintain•
physical and emotional balance that subsequently results in an STAGE 2: ASSUMPTION OF THE SICK ROLE
impairment of functional abilities.
• If symptoms persist and become sever, the person assume the
ILLNESS BEHAVIOR
sick role
• Sick people seek validation from family and social group.
• involves ways an individual describes, monitors, and interprets
the symptoms, take remedial actions and use health care STAGE 3: MEDICAL CARE CONTACT
systems.
• In other words, it is how people react, manage and perceive to be • The sick person seeks out health care provider for diagnosis
ill and treatment.
• May give up independence.
WELLNESS
STAGE 4: DEPENDENT OF CLIENT ROLE
• is the quality or state of being in good health especially as an
actively sought goal. • The client depends on the health care professions for the relief
of symptoms.
IMMUNITY
• Requires assistance in carrying out the activities of daily living;
• is the ability to resist a particular infection or toxin by the action of needs emotional support.
specific antibodies or sensitized white blood cells.
STAGE 5: RECOVERY OR REHABILITATION
STAGES OF ILLNESS
• The client may return to health at a higher level of functioning,
• ACUTE • Resumes normal activities and responsibilities.
o characterized by severe symptoms of relatively
short period of time, usually reversible
 MODULE 3F – CONCEPT OF HEALTH
IMPACT OF ILLNESS TO THE CLIENT & THE FAMILY
• THREE FACTORS
o member of the family who is ill
o seriousness and level of illness
o cultural and social customs of the family
• ON CLIENT
o Behavioral and emotional changes
o Changes in self-concept and body image
o Lifestyle changes
• ON THE FAMILY
o Role changes
o Task reassignments and extra demands on time
o Increased stress and conflict
o Financial problems
o Loneliness
o Change on social customs
PRIMARY PREVENTION
S SIX LINKS IN THE CHAIN OF INFECTION
SECONDARY PREVENTION
TERTIARY PREVENTION
OPPURTUNITIES TO BREAK OR DISTRUPT THE CHAIN AT ANY
LINK IN A HEALTHCARE SETTING
• Rapid an accurate diagnosis of an infectious disease
• Prompt treatment of infected clients
• Safe disposal of waste
• Sterilization and disinfection of medical equipment
• Implementation of an environmental decontamination strategy
LEVELS OF PREVENTIVE CARE
• PRIMARY PREVENTION
o seeks to prevent a disease or condition
o applied to clients considered physically and
emotionally healthy.
• SECONDARY PREVENTION
o focuses on individuals experiencing health problems
or illnesses and are risk for developing complications
or worsening conditions.
• TERTIARY PEVENTION
o occurs when a defect or disability is permanent or
irreversible.
o involves minimizing the effects of long-term disease
or disability by interventions directed at preventing
complications and deterioration.
• HEALTH PROMOTION
o Health education programs
o Immunizations
o Nutritional programs
o Physical fitness activities
• SPECIFIC PROTECTION:
o Immunization for influenza
o Hearing protection in occupational settings
o Use of seatbelts and bike helmets
o Control on the use of hazardous products
• EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND PROMPT TREATMENT
o Screening activities
o Selective examinations
• DISABILITY LIMITATIONS
o Adequate treatment to arrest disease process
o Provision of facilities to limit disability & death
• RESTORATION & REHABILITATION
o Provision of hospital & community facilities for
retraining and education to maximize use of
remaining capacities. (Use of wheelchair and perform
ADLs independently for a stroke victim
o The goal of returning inidividualk to OLOF (Optimum
Level of Functioning)
 MODULE 3F – CONCEPT OF HEALTH
TYPES OF IMMUNITY • TRAVIS’ ILLNES – WELLNESS CONTINUUM - a graphical
illustration of well – being concept first proposed by Travis. It
• ACTIVE proposes the well – being includes mental and emotional
o Natural health, as well as the presence or absence of illness.
o Artificial
• PASSIVE (acquired)
o Natural
o Artificial

TYPE ANTIGEN OR ANTIBODY SOURCE

Antibodies are produced by the body in

ACTIVE
response to an antigen.
Antibodies are formed in the presence of • HEALTH BELIEF MODEL - a physiological model that
Natural
active infection in the body. attempts to explain and predict health behaviors.
Antigen are administered to stimulate
Artificial
antibody production (vaccines/toxoids)
Antibodies are produced by another
PASSIVE
source animal or human.
Antibodies are transferred naturally from
Natural an immune mother to her baby through
the placenta or in the colostrum (milk).
Immune serum antibody from an animal
Artificial
or another human is injected.

MODELS OF HEALTH & WELLNESS

• Dunn’s High-level wellness grid – wellness is an integrated
method of functioning which is oriented towards maximizing the
potential of which the individual is capable.
• MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS – human needs
ranked on an ascending scale according to how essential the
needs are: Physiological Needs, Safety and Security, Love
and Belongingness, Self Esteem, and Self-Actualization.
 MODULE 3F – CONCEPT OF HEALTH
• Agent – Host Environmental Model
o each factor constantly interacts with the others
o when in balance, health is maintained
o when not in balance, disease occurs
o used primarily in predicting illness rather than
promoting wellness.
o model is composed of three dynamic, interactive
elements.
• Role Performance model – health is the ability to do societal
roles. People are considered healthy if they can fulfill their
roles even if they have clinical illness. Sickness in this model
is the inability to perform one’s work role.
• Holistic Health model – considers emotional, spiritual, and
other dimensions to be important aspects of physical
wellness. This model attempt to create conditions that
promote a patient’s optimal level of health. Using the nursing
process, nurses consider patients to be the ultimate experts
concerning their own health and respect patient’s subjective
experience.

FACTORS INFLUENCING HEALTH STATUS, BELIEFS & PRACTICES

• INTERNAL VARIABLES

o Biologic Dimension – genetic make – up, sex, age,

and developmental level
o Psychological Dimension – mind-body
interactions and self-concept
o Cognitive Dimension – lifestyle choices, spiritual
and religious beliefs.
• EXTERNAL VARIABLES
o Physical Environment
o Standards of living
o Family and Cultural Beliefs
o Social Support Networks

OTHER HEALTH MODELS

• Clinical model – people are viewed as physiological systems
with related functions. Health is identified by the absence of signs
& symptoms of disease or injury.
• Adaptive model – health is a creative process; disease is a
failure in adaptation. Aim of treatment is to restore ability of a
person to adapt and cope. Extreme good health is flexible
adaptation to the environment and interaction with environment
to maximum advantage. Focus is stability along with growth and
change.