Coping with Cardiovascular Diseases Life Threatening Illness
Coping with Cardiovascular Diseases Life Threatening Illness
Overview
| Assignment | Due Date | Format | Grading Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coping Strategies for Chronic and Life Threatening Illness | Day 3 (1st Post) |
Discussion | 5 |
| Transtheoretical and Health Belief Models in Chronic Illness | Day 7 | Assignment | 20 |
Learning Outcomes
This week students will:
- Evaluate biopsychosocial factors associated with chronic, serious, and disabling illness.
- Explain biopsychosocial aspects of coping with chronic, serious and disabling illness.
- Identify common serious illness syndromes and available support interventions designed to maximize adaptive coping strategies.
Introduction
Welcome to Week Five of PSY361! Unfortunately, not all illnesses are minor or temporary. Many disease syndromes are serious and even life-threatening. Some of these conditions are also chronic, meaning that the individual cannot look forward to a resolution of symptoms. To compound the impact of these illnesses on the individual’s life, symptoms or body damage from the disease process may result in functional loss. This can reduce enjoyment of life, impair productivity, and diminish self-esteem. Even in the face of such serious challenges, health-related behaviors can be adaptive and maximize successful outcomes. This week we will explore how the integration of mental health services into care delivery systems can assist individuals in understanding the options available in these circumstances.
Required Resources
Required Text
- Sarafino, E.P., & Smith, T.W. (2016). Health psychology: Biopsychosocial interactions (9th ed.). Retrieved from https://vitalsource.com
- Chapter 13: Serious and Disabling Chronic Illnesses: Causes, Management, and Coping
- Chapter 14: Heart Disease, Stroke, Cancer, and AIDS: Causes, Management, and Coping
PSY 361 Week 5 Overview:
While the course is in session, there will be Announcements in the online course to remind you of our current subject content and reading, discussion board activities, assignments, and other important or relevant information. Please be sure to check the course for current Announcements frequently. As always, email with ANY questions or concerns, or post public comments/questions on the “Ask Your Instructor” forum.
Topics this week:
- Evaluate biopsychosocial factors associated with chronic, serious, and disabling illness.
- Explain biopsychosocial aspects of coping with chronic, serious and disabling illness.
- Identify common serious illness syndromes and available support interventions designed to maximize adaptive coping strategies.
Reading in Text Chapters 13 & 14:
- Impact of chronic illness
- Adjusting to chronic illness
- Psychosocial interventions for chronic illness
- Coping with and adapting to high-mortality illness
- Information on selected chronic illnesses
Focus of topics in this Guidance:
- Risk factors for chronic illness
- Patient-centered care
- Psychosocial factors in the development of chronic illness
RISK FACTORS FOR DEVELOPING CHRONIC ILLNESS:
What are Risk Factors? What is Relative Risk (RR)?
- A risk factor is an indentifiable characteristic that has been shown to raise the risk of developing an illness
- We compare the rate of development of illness in those with and without the factor, and this allows us to determine the “relative risk” (RR) contributed by the risk factor
- Relative Risk (RR) as a “number line” continuum:
- A Relative Risk of one (RR = 1) means that this characteristic neither raises nor lowers the risk of developing the illness
- A Relative Risk of a positive number above one (RR >1) means that this characteristic raises the risk of developing the illness
- A Relative Risk of a fractional number (between zero and one) (0< RR <1) means that this characteristic reduces the risk of developing the illness (i.e., may be protective; for example, an RR=0.8 means this is associated with reduced risk of developing the illness)
