Sociological Approaches To Long Term Conditions

Question 1

What re long term conditions

Answer 1

Long term, profound influence on lives, co-morbid conditions often
May vary day to day
Controlled but not cured
Increase with ageing population

Question 2

Example of LTC

Answer 2

Rheumatoid arthritis
Chronic, progressive, inflammatory, autoimmune
Remissions and exacerbations

Question 3

Sociological approach to LTC’s

Answer 3

How they impact social interaction, how people manage, effects of LTC’s

Question 4

What is an illness narrative

Answer 4

Story telling and accounting practices that occur in the face of illness
Lots of sociological research based on peoples narratives with their illness

Question 5

Work of long term health conditions

Answer 5

Illness, everyday life, emotional, biographical, identity

Question 6

What is illness work

Answer 6

Getting a diagnosis (uncertainty period, shocking, relief)
Managing symptoms (self conception changes)
Self management (adherence, wellbeing)

Question 7

How can illness work be relieved

Answer 7

Expert patient program - patient centred, gives management skills for condition, improves quality of life

But this is ran by patients who are ill, low evidence of efficiency savings

Question 8

Everyday life work

Answer 8

Coping and strategic management
(Cognitive processes and actions to manage condition)
Normalisation - try and keep life same as before or have a new normal

Question 9

Emotional work

Answer 9

Protect the emotional wellbeing of others
Maintain normal activities is then deliberate
Downplaying pain or symptoms
Present as cheery
Impacts your role, can become dependent (hard for young people)

Question 10

Biographical work

Answer 10

Loss of self
Former self image crumbles away
Body and identity

Question 11

Identity work

Answer 11

Some conditions carry connotations
How people see themselves and how others see them
People focus on illness not person (defining aspect on identity)
STIGMA

Question 12

4 types of stigma

Answer 12

Discreditable, discrediting, felt, enacted

Question 13

Discreditable vs discredited stigma

Answer 13

Discreditable - nothing seen (mental illness)

Discredited - physically visible characteristic or well known (physical disability or suicide attempt)

Question 14

Felt vs enacted stigma

Answer 14

Enacted - real experience of prejudice, discrimination

Felt - fear of enacted stigma