OBJECTIVE: To describe and better understand adults' responses to the onset, accrual and influence of multiple chronic conditions and to social support in adapting to consequent difficulties. METHODS: Qualitative study of 33 adults with multiple chronic illnesses randomly sampled from an urban primary care clinic. Semi-structured interviews targeted retrospective accounts of illness onset, consequent loss, as well as current accounts of social support and adaptation. All interviews were audio-recorded, professionally transcribed and analysed according to established phenomenological procedures. RESULTS: Participants' responses revealed illness onset as a virtual cascade of medical, emotional and social hardships, leading to loss and subsequent adaptation through personal resilience and particularly, available social support. Participants also described patterns of adaptation punctuated by the felt need and rewards of providing care to others. DISCUSSION: The experience of multiple chronic illnesses has a distinct pattern of development and consequence, involving challenges to personal identity and the benefits of social support from and to others. Our results suggest that programmes addressing the needs of persons with multiple chronic conditions might tailor interventions in ways that maximally address their unique challenges.
OBJECTIVE: To describe and better understand adults' responses to the onset, accrual and influence of multiple chronic conditions and to social support in adapting to consequent difficulties. METHODS: Qualitative study of 33 adults with multiple chronic illnesses randomly sampled from an urban primary care clinic. Semi-structured interviews targeted retrospective accounts of illness onset, consequent loss, as well as current accounts of social support and adaptation. All interviews were audio-recorded, professionally transcribed and analysed according to established phenomenological procedures. RESULTS:Participants' responses revealed illness onset as a virtual cascade of medical, emotional and social hardships, leading to loss and subsequent adaptation through personal resilience and particularly, available social support. Participants also described patterns of adaptation punctuated by the felt need and rewards of providing care to others. DISCUSSION: The experience of multiple chronic illnesses has a distinct pattern of development and consequence, involving challenges to personal identity and the benefits of social support from and to others. Our results suggest that programmes addressing the needs of persons with multiple chronic conditions might tailor interventions in ways that maximally address their unique challenges.
Authors: Elizabeth A Bayliss; Patrick J Blatchford; Sophia R Newcomer; John F Steiner; Diane L Fairclough Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2011-01-04 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Elisabeth Wallhäusser-Franke; Wolfgang Delb; Tobias Balkenhol; Wolfgang Hiller; Karl Hörmann Journal: Neural Plast Date: 2014-07-08 Impact factor: 3.599
Authors: Ann Gill Taylor; Katharine E Adelstein; Tamara G Fischer-White; Maheswari Murugesan; Joel G Anderson Journal: Glob Qual Nurs Res Date: 2016-07-06
Authors: Amy E Bodde; Nathan D Shippee; Carl R May; Frances S Mair; Patricia J Erwin; M Hassan Murad; Victor M Montori Journal: Syst Rev Date: 2013-05-11
Authors: Oliver Mauthner; Enza De Luca; Jennifer Poole; Mena Gewarges; Susan E Abbey; Margrit Shildrick; Heather Ross Journal: Nurs Res Pract Date: 2012-10-17