Life Goes On, Even with a Chronic Illness
An active discussion is the key to an interesting and engaging online course. Discussion in this course is designed to simulate a classroom discussion. Rather than having each of you post a “mini paper” in response to the discussion questions, we will go through the questions as a group, one question at a time. As you join in the discussion, you should read what has already been posted and then add substantively to what has been written.
 
The modules in this course are one week in length. Time goes quickly, so remember to post early! Get in the habit of checking the discussions as often as you can to see what others have posted and to respond. The earlier in the week that you begin posting, the deeper the conversation and learning will be.
 
The first question in this discussion is opinion and/or experience-based, so jump right into the discussion immediately. For subsequent questions please meaningfully integrate your readings including the text, articles, and module notes into your posts.
 
First, in your opinion:
 
As someone new to the course, how would you react to these two statements below? Would you view the two people with diabetes the same, or would the use of the word disease versus the word illness mean something different? How so?
 
“Lashauna’s doctor told her she has a chronic disease.”
 
“Lashauna’s doctor told her she has a chronic illness.”
 
Now view the following video:
 
Multiple chronic conditions: A day in the life (Links to an external site.)
 
(1:58 minutes)
 
After viewing the video, which describes Mae’s illness experience, let’s apply your readings to the following questions:
 
In your readings, the World Health Organization defines health conditions according to a person’s functioning. What does Mae’s functioning tell you about her health? How about the ways in which she might define disease and illness? Thinking on your readings and application to Mae, are there other variables that might aid in defining a person’s health or illness?
 
Now that together we have looked at Mae’s functioning and perhaps identified other ways to explore chronic illness or disease, let’s explore the three models found in your readings. How might each of these models (medical, social, and biopsychosocial) apply to what we know of Mae’s health conditions? Which model is the best fit for Mae, and why?
 
Lastly, let’s look at what the readings have to say about risk factors, and what we can do about them. Addressing risk factors can be very challenging, particularly when a person has multiple illnesses. What lessons can we draw from our readings to assist and empower people such as Mae and her loved ones, to manage the risk factors and symptoms of chronic disease? In particular, what lessons can we draw from your Bauer, et al. reading in terms of eliminating some of the “controllable” risks individuals, families and communities face?