Order Description
In this Discussion, you explore psychosocial and behavioral factors faced by patients with chronic diseases. You consider several scenarios related to various aspects
of chronic disease and provide recommendations for how to address those aspects. Also, you identify challenges that might arise with your recommendations and how those
challenges could be managed.
To prepare for this Discussion,
• Review this week’s Learning Resources on chronic and non-communicable diseases. Consider the psychosocial and behavioral factors that impact patients with these
diseases.
•
Select one of the scenarios from the Week 4 Discussion Scenarios (located in this week’s Learning Resources). Identify the main psychosocial and/or behavioral aspects
of the scenario.
•
Consider the role of public health practitioners and health professionals in addressing the behavioral aspects of chronic illness.
Post which scenario you selected and provide a brief summary of the psychosocial factors that influence the health behavior and the disease.
Then explain how public health strategies or interventions could be used to address the psychosocial factors you identified.
Include in your explanation the challenges associated with these strategies or inventions, and how the challenges can be addressed.
Finally, explain why it is important for health professionals and public health practitioners to understand how psychosocial factors impact disease.
Week 4 Discussion Scenarios
Scenario 1:
Amy was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy to remove the cancerous tissue. After surgery, her doctor informs her that the operation
was a success and then asks her to consider additional therapy options to prevent the reemergence of cancer: radiation, chemotherapy, and additional surgeries. The lab
analysis of Amy’s lymph nodes around her breast did not show signs of cancer, and Amy is doubtful that her cancer will return. She points out that additional therapy
would be stressful and disruptive, and that she and her family are ready to move on with their lives now that her cancer has been “fixed.”
Scenario 2:
After experiencing fatigue and blurred vision, Lupe’s family brings her to a local physician. Lupe is diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. In addition to prescribing
medications, her physician recommends that Lupe lose weight, improve her diet, exercise, and monitor her glucose regularly. Lupe is frustrated by these recommendations
and wonders how she will do all of this since she works 10 hours a day and cares for her four children, husband, and 72-year-old mother. Without the help of her oldest
child, who is bilingual, it is also hard to understand the physician. She decides to do the best she can, and confides in her friends and sister that it may be “God’s
will.”
Scenario 3:
Alex was diagnosed with coronary heart disease after he suffered a mild heart attack and was rushed to the hospital for treatment. His physician explains the factors
that contributed to and can worsen his disease, including smoking, eating foods high in fat and cholesterol, and a sedentary lifestyle. His physician also recommends
medication for diabetes and high cholesterol. Alex worries that he will not be able to follow his doctor’s advice; he works as a server in a restaurant where he is
exposed to smoking and is tempted to eat unhealthy foods. He adds that he cannot afford medication and that family and other time commitments limit his ability to
exercise.
Readings
• Course Text: Human Disease and Prevention
o Chapter 5, “Non-Communicable Diseases”
• Book Excerpt: Snooks, M. K. (2009). Applications of health psychology to chronic illness. In Health psychology: Biological, psychological, and sociocultural
perspectives (pp. 321–345). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
Snooks, M. (2009). Health Psychology: Biological, Psychological, and Sociocultural Perspectives. Boston, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Reprinted by permission.
Web Resources
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). About the journal.
Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/about_the_journal/index.htm
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Chronic disease prevention and health promotion.
Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/index.htm
• WHO. (2011a). Global status report on noncommunicable diseases 2010.
Retrieved from http://www.who.int/nmh/publications/ncd_report2010/en/
• WHO. (2011b). Chronic diseases.
Retrieved from http://www.who.int/topics/chronic_diseases/en/
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