Living with chronic illness

By Oliver Putt

For WMS Peer Support – 14th January 2015

Why is this clinically relevant?

The epidemiological transition

Key features

Impact on your patients

Impact on your employer

What is a chronic illness?A disease or disorder of slow progression and long duration which causes continuous or

episodic periods of incapacity.(http://www.firststopcareadvice.org.uk/jargon-chronic-illness.aspx)

I don’t want to be ill!‘Passing off’

as being well

Hiding illness

What are the affects?

Biographical disruptionChanging the

direction of lives

Crisis theoryWhat influences how

a person manages their chronic illness?Changes in identityChanges in locationChanges in roleChanges in social

supportChanges in the

future

Experience of chronic illness

Listen to your patient’s story

The patient as an expertWho knows

best about living with a chronic condition?

Expert patient program

Self regulatory modelRepresentation

of illness

Coping

AppraisalEmotional

response to illness

Interpretation

Supporting patients with chronic illness

Bio-Psycho-Social model

Pain management programs for chronic

painWhat is it?

Advantages

Disadvantages

SummaryUnderstanding the psycho-social impact of a long term

condition is important in helping patients manage their condition.

A combination of education and cognitive behavioral approaches can help patients manage their condition.

Explore all options including self management groups.

A multidisciplinary approach using the bio-psycho-social approach.

It is important to work with patients to achieve an understanding the main goal is not a “cure” but to improve quality of life.

Dr Alan Dolan and Dr Harbinder Sandhu 2014

Thank youAny questions?