Compare and contrast the terms “disability” and “chronic illness”. What are the

Question

Compare and contrast the terms “disability” and “chronic illness”. What are the similarities and/or differences? Can they coexist? Give reasoning behind your evaluation. Discuss two (2) legal and/or ethical challenges or implications for patients and families with disabilities or with chronic illnesses, trying to achieve comprehensive self-management. Identify and state two (2) actions the RN can implement to help the patient and family achieve comprehensive self-management with a disability or with a chronic illness.

Explanation / Answer

1.Chronic illness is self explanatory in a way. Chronic means long standing situation which is severe. Illness is a deterioting physical and mental health. So chronic illness essentially means a long standing physical or mental debilitating condition or disease that has the potential to decrease life span and cause additional organic pathologies. Chronic illness can lead to disability. For e.g.. a long standing case of rheumatoid arthritis can develop severe deformity in limbs.

Disability on the other hand means a person is unable to perform a function which a normal individual could other wise do. A disability does not have the potential to cause life threatening conditions and does not decrease a person's life span. For eg: blindness is considered a disability.

Both of these conditions can coexist. An example : retinoblastoma ( chronic cancerous condition seen in children involving the orbit and eyeball) can lead to permanent blindness ( disability). In this example we can say that the disability resulted from a chronic illness.

2. The main challenges include issues arising out of trust for health care system and healthcare professionals. Many patients do not trust the state's health care system. Hence involving them in decision making and convincing them will be a challenge.

Deep cultural beliefs can also pose a moral and ethical dilemmas to healthcare. If the patient has a strong belief in particular way of life it is difficult to convince them otherwise.

3. Educating the family and patient about the condition that the patient is suffering from and what to expect. Also making them aware of the healthcare benefits they are entitled too and the programmes that they can enrol in to benefit from. Also available contact nos and information regarding self management groups can be provided.

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