Siektegedrag by 'n groep persone met 'n lewensbedreigende siekte
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Date
1989-11
Authors
De Bruyn, Frans Roelf Petrus
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
In this study the illness behaviour of people with a life threatening
illness was described and the relationship between stress, affect and
illness behaviour investigated.
An overview of the literature shows that the illness behaviour patients
exhibit is and should be an important consideration in the diagnosis of
illness and treatment of patients. This is evident in reports of a high
amount of ill people who do not receive treatment and the high amount
of patients who seek treatment for minor ailments. It is further evident
in the light of findings that illness behaviour does not always accurately
represent the physical disfunction and that it may even be present in
the absence of a physical disfunction.
The paucity of research on the illness behaviour of specific patient
groups, and of information on the relative effects of physical versus
psychological factors on illness behaviour, indicate a void in the
literature. The present study investigates this relationship in a group of
patients with a life threatening illness.
In the first phase of the study 15 kidney transplant patients were
compared to themselves, under normal conditions and conditions of
stress, regarding affect, the experiencing of stress and the reporting of
physical symptoms.
In the second phase of the study 15 kidney transplant patients were
compared to 15 patients with acute but minor ailments regarding the
reporting of physical symptoms, affect, the experiencing of stress and
the psychosocial impact of the illness.
The results indicate that psychopathology does not exist significantly in
the transplant group, denial plays an important part in coping with the
transplant, the transplant group does not have a poor quality of life, and
the transplant group reacts with illness behaviour under conditions of
stress. It was concluded that the findings have important implications
for the treatment of transplant patients.
Description
Keywords
Health behavior, Health attitudes, Sick -- Psychology, Thesis (D.Litt. (Psychology))--University of the Free State, 1989