Chronicity

This powerpoint presentation was developed for the NURS B326 course in Adult Health 1 and introduces the concepts of chronicity

1. Chronicity
What we want to accomplish:
1.Differentiate between acute illness vs. chronic
illness.
2.Define “chronic conditions.”
3.Identify factors related to the increasing incidence
of chronic conditions.
4.Describe characteristics of chronic conditions and
implications for people with chronic conditions and
for their families.

2. Chronicity
What we want to accomplish:
1.Differentiate between acute illness vs. chronic
illness.

3. Acute VS Chronic
ACUTE CHRONIC
Beginning Rapid Gradual
Cause Usually one Many
Duration Short (<3
months)
Indefinite (> 3
months)
Diagnosis Commonly
Accurate
Often uncertain
Diagnostic
Tests
Often DecisiveOften limited
value
TreatmentCure is common Cure is rare

4. OVERVIEW OF CHRONIC
DISEASES
•Account for 7 out of 10 deaths
•The term “chronic” describes a long disease
course and illnesses that may be incurable
•Require profound adjustments in all aspects of the
patient’s life
•Lifestyle changes
•Uncertainty
•Stress response (both patient and family)
•Developmental Stage of patient and family
•Previous experience
•Underlying personality
•Unresolved anger or grief

5. Chronicity
What we want to accomplish:
1.Define “chronic conditions.”

6. •CHF
•CAD
•Stroke
•Obesity
•Arthritis
•COPD

7. Chronicity
What we want to accomplish:
1.Identify factors related to the increasing incidence
of chronic conditions.

8. PREVALENCE AND CAUSES OF
CHRONIC CONDITIONS
Affects
both rich
and poor
nations.
Major
cause of
death
Focus on
Chart 9-1
and
Table 9-1

10. Chronicity
What we want to accomplish:
1.Describe characteristics of chronic conditions and
implications for people with chronic conditions and
for their families.

11. CHARACTERISTICS OF CHRONIC CONDITIONS
Managing chronic illness involves more than treating
medical problems.
Chronic conditions usually involve many different
phases over the course of a person’s lifetime.
Keeping chronic conditions under control requires
persistent adherence to therapeutic regimens.
One chronic disease can lead to the development of
other chronic conditions.

12. Chronic illness affects the entire family.
The day-to-day management of illness is largely the
responsibility of people with chronic disorders and
their families.
The management of chronic conditions is a process
of discovery.
Managing chronic conditions must be a collaborative
process that involves many different health care
professionals working together.
The management of chronic conditions is expensive.

13. Chronic conditions raise difficult ethical issues for
patients, families, health care professionals, and
society.
Living with chronic illness means living with
uncertainty.

14. Describe implications for people with
chronic conditions and for their families

15. NURSING CARE OF PATIENTS WITH
CHRONIC ILLNESSES
Skilled communication is essential, especially when
conveying bad news

16. THE TRAJECTORY MODEL
The Trajectory Model describes discrete phases in an
individual’s experience with chronic illness