3. Learning the Patient's Story

Question 1

what 3 questions does an invidivual think of when they first notice that they are not well?

Answer 1

1. do i know the cause or explanation
2. could this be a serious illness
3. can i do something to relieve the symptoms?

Question 2

how is onset of serious illness often interpreted by patient and/or the family

Answer 2

1. threatened loss of control
2. impending dependency
3. fear of closeness
4. separation from home, family and friends
5. threatened loss of love (illness will make them unloveable)
6. failure to maintain personal health and thus threatened self esteem
7. fear of suffering and mortality
8. fear of mutilation from disease or surgical treatment

Question 3

initial responses include

Answer 3

1. attempt at self treatment
2. seeking help from non medical source, including internet
3. denial
4. desire to tell story of illness

Question 4

a 2001 study repeated a study by White to show that most symptoms experienced by an individual during any given month are___

Answer 4

self limited or treated by self-care or someone in the home.

Question 5

individual and family must adapt with following tasks

Answer 5

a