Reframing health and illness: a collaborative autoethnography on the experience of health and illness transformations in the life course. 2019

Alexandra C H Nowakowski, and J E Sumerau
Department of Geriatrics/Department of Behavioural Sciences and Social Medicine, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, USA.

In this collaborative autoethnography, we examine the processes whereby people may reframe their interpretations and understandings of health and illness as a result of new diagnostic information. In so doing, we utilise the first author's experience receiving a conclusive diagnosis of cystic fibrosis after years of misdiagnosis to outline some ways changes in diagnosis facilitate shifts in illness management, the nature of health and illness and the experience of the self in relation to health and medicine. Furthermore, we discuss the ways this case reveals the importance of examining and comparing the social construction and transformation of health and illness within and between different individual and collective lived experiences over time. In closing, we draw out theoretical and empirical implications for understanding transformations in the nature of health and illness over the life course as well as future directions for research investigating shifts in illness management and understanding over time (A virtual abstract of this paper is available to view at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_979cmCmR9rLrKuD7z0ycA).

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008019 Life Style Typical way of life or manner of living characteristic of an individual or group. (From APA, Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms, 8th ed) Lifestyle Factors,Life Style Induced Illness,Lifestyle,Factor, Lifestyle,Life Styles,Lifestyle Factor,Lifestyles
D002908 Chronic Disease Diseases which have one or more of the following characteristics: they are permanent, leave residual disability, are caused by nonreversible pathological alteration, require special training of the patient for rehabilitation, or may be expected to require a long period of supervision, observation, or care (Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed). For epidemiological studies chronic disease often includes HEART DISEASES; STROKE; CANCER; and diabetes (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 2). Chronic Condition,Chronic Illness,Chronically Ill,Chronic Conditions,Chronic Diseases,Chronic Illnesses,Condition, Chronic,Disease, Chronic,Illness, Chronic
D003550 Cystic Fibrosis An autosomal recessive genetic disease of the EXOCRINE GLANDS. It is caused by mutations in the gene encoding the CYSTIC FIBROSIS TRANSMEMBRANE CONDUCTANCE REGULATOR expressed in several organs including the LUNG, the PANCREAS, the BILIARY SYSTEM, and the SWEAT GLANDS. Cystic fibrosis is characterized by epithelial secretory dysfunction associated with ductal obstruction resulting in AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION; chronic RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS; PANCREATIC INSUFFICIENCY; maldigestion; salt depletion; and HEAT PROSTRATION. Mucoviscidosis,Cystic Fibrosis of Pancreas,Fibrocystic Disease of Pancreas,Pancreatic Cystic Fibrosis,Pulmonary Cystic Fibrosis,Cystic Fibrosis, Pancreatic,Cystic Fibrosis, Pulmonary,Fibrosis, Cystic,Pancreas Fibrocystic Disease,Pancreas Fibrocystic Diseases
D005260 Female Females
D006304 Health Status The level of health of the individual, group, or population as subjectively assessed by the individual or by more objective measures. General Health,General Health Level,General Health Status,Level of Health,Overall Health,Overall Health Status,General Health Levels,Health Level,Health Level, General,Health Levels,Health Status, General,Health Status, Overall,Health, General,Health, Overall,Level, General Health,Levels, General Health,Status, General Health,Status, Health,Status, Overall Health
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000884 Anthropology, Cultural Study of social phenomena which characterize the learned, shared, and transmitted social activities of particular ethnic groups with focus on the causes, consequences, and complexities of human social and cultural variability. Ethnography,Cultural Anthropology,Material Culture,Culture, Material,Ethnographies,Material Cultures
D055809 Illness Behavior Coordinate set of non-specific behavioral responses to non-psychiatric illness. These may include loss of APPETITE or LIBIDO; disinterest in ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING; or withdrawal from social interaction. Sickness Behavior,Behavior, Illness,Behavior, Sickness,Behaviors, Illness,Behaviors, Sickness,Illness Behaviors,Sickness Behaviors
D019468 Disease Management A broad approach to appropriate coordination of the entire disease treatment process that often involves shifting away from more expensive inpatient and acute care to areas such as preventive medicine, patient counseling and education, and outpatient care. This concept includes implications of appropriate versus inappropriate therapy on the overall cost and clinical outcome of a particular disease. (From Hosp Pharm 1995 Jul;30(7):596) Disease Managements,Management, Disease,Managements, Disease

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