Research the health-illness continuum and its relevance to patient care. In a 750-1,000-word paper, discuss the relevance of the following: continuum to patient care and present a perspective of your current state of health in relation to the wellness spectrum.
Research the health-illness continuum and its relevance to patient care. In a 750-1,000-word paper, discuss the relevance of the following: continuum to patient care and present a perspective of your current state of health in relation to the wellness spectrum. Include the experience when caring for patients. 1. Examine the health-illness continuum and discuss why this perspective is important to consider in relation to health and the human
2. Explain how understanding the health-illness continuum enables you, as a health care provider, to better promote the value and worldview. dignity of individuals or groups and to serve others in ways that promote human flourishing and are consistent with the Christian
3. Reflect on your overall state of health. Discuss what behaviors support or detract from your health and well-being. Explain where you currently fall on the health-illness continuum.
4. Discuss the options and resources available to you to help you move toward wellness on the health-illness spectrum. Describe how these would assist in moving you toward wellness (managing a chronic disease, recovering from an illness, self-actualization, etc.). You are required to cite a minimum of three peer-reviewed sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years, appropriate for the assignment criteria, and relevant to nursing practice.
Answer
Research paper: Health-illness Continuum
By: Essayicons.com
In human lives, health is a significant aspect and term that determines a person’s wellness. As usual, human health changes from time to time, from being healthy to being sick. Pioneered by John Travis five decades ago, the health-illness continuum is a model used to illustrate health as an aspect that constantly changes from a state that spans from wellness to illness. The model acknowledges that being healthy does not refer to the absence of disease; rather, it is a state that includes spiritual, mental, physical, psychological, and emotional wellness. This research paper aims to analyze the health-illness continuum and its essence to a healthcare practitioner and patient care and offer my perspective on my state of health considering the wellness scope.
| Normal health (neutral point) |
An illustration of the health-illness continuum.
Generally, the continuum illustrates the various states of wellness and illness a person goes through in life. According to Kishan, “moving away from the center demonstrates a steadily declining state of health. Moving from the center to the top indicates an improvement in health and wellbeing. One can get at a neutral point where his chosen therapy paradigm no longer alleviates disease symptoms” (Kishan, 2020). Notably, this perspective is essential to consider while offering patient care concerning health and human experiences. This is because the continuum recognizes that people within the society exist at varying levels within the model, hence needing varying patient care needs. Therefore, after determining a patient’s level of health using the continuum, a patient care provider can set goals for the patient to achieve to reach the required level of wellness and also offer concise care. Evidently, “one can advance to higher well-being levels by using the wellness paradigm, which can be applied at any point along the continuum” (Kishan, 2020). In addition, this perspective allows patient care providers to evaluate a particular patient’s needs, enabling them to come up with concise interventions for their physical, emotional, mental, and social needs. Also, Johns’s model highlights the necessity of prevention and promoting wellness. Notably, “the well-being perspective, which may be used at any point along the continuum, motivates one to strive for higher standards of health” (Wickramarathne et al., 2020). Apparently, it inspires patients to work towards achieving high-level wellness and minimizing the risk of developing life-threatening diseases, which is central when caring for patients.
Comprehending the continuum is paramount in my career choice in providing care that enhances human flourishing, dignity, and value that also follows the perspective of Christianity as a healthcare provider,. This is because the continuum can enhance the aforementioned aspects. Fundamentally, the underlying framework behind the continuum is the patient’s wellness which includes symptomatic illness and absence of diseases. Kishan notes, “most of us believe that being healthy means being free from disease. In actuality, there are as many degrees of health as there are of illness” (Kishan, 2020). Thus, by focusing on general wellness as per the continuum, I can provide care that revamps the welfare of all people, which enhances flourishing among humans. By utilizing the continuum, I can make my patients achieve high-level wellness again while keeping their values and dignity in mind. Additionally, by understanding the spectrum, I will be able to provide patient-centered care, which is in accordance with their culture and perspective of Christianity that involves treating others with love and empathy.
Personally, I categorize my overall state of health as satisfactory. I consider myself a young adult suffering from none of the life-threatening disorders. My family also does not have genetic disorders; hence I am not at risk of getting hereditary diseases. On the other hand, once or twice annually, I suffer from the common cold, which is common. Fueled by my studies and school work, I have been exhibiting stress, exhaustion, mood swings, and negative energy of late. At some point, I feel depressed and anxious, which has negatively affected my general wellness. The behaviors that support my health and welfare are that I engage in exercise regularly, and I have been focusing on consuming a balanced diet. I also do a lot of meditation which has significantly supported my mental health. On the contrary, the behaviors that detract from my health and welfare include the fact that sometimes I miss breakfast. Despite focusing on a balanced diet, sometimes I eat fast food whenever I feel stressed or anxious. Due to my fatigue, I often take long naps after school, which end up ruining my bedtime and social life. Based on the continuum, I fall on the neutral point at the center since I am not suffering from any disease, but I have some mental and emotional areas that require improvement.
Fueled by my neutral point at the continuum, there are various available options and resources that can help me move to high-level wellness. For instance, meditation is available for managing my stress, depression, and anxiety, which improves my mental health. Therapy is also available, which works well with managing depression and anxiety, hence ideal for managing my mental health. I can also engage in regular exercise and balanced diet options, which play a central role in living a healthy life. On the other hand, I can also access educational resources like exercise programs and nutrition classes, which will guide me toward a healthy lifestyle. According to research by Elliot and Hamlin, it is clear that “physical activity prescription with the addition of nutrition education component is beneficial to a large group of patients” and hence effective for achieving wellness (Elliot & Hamlin, 2018). In addition, healthcare professions are a paramount resource I can access. These professionals will guide me on the right path and share some insight on areas I have been doing wrong and areas of improvement, which is a starting point to high-level wellness.
To sum up, it is apparent that the health-illness continuum is an enlightening model explaining the level of human wellness and the fact that the presence of a disease is the only determinant of illness. As a health care practitioner, it is evident that comprehending the spectrum enhances care centered on the patients, respect, and dignity towards people. It is also evident that the continuum motivates people to work towards achieving wellness and making choices that go in hand with their values. Overall, the spectrum highlights that wellness is not limited to disease presence only. Instead, it also includes emotional and mental welfare.