Social Work in Health Care, 37(1), 2003, pp.19-39.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
The purpose of this study was to explore the use of narrative as a tool to understand the experience of chronic illness. The study is phenomenological in nature, using elements of grounded theory and social constructionism to consider the data collected. As examples of the issues raised using the narrative approach, the paper describes four themes that were pervasive in the first-person accounts of these individuals: emotional reaction to the diagnosis, because of both the form and content in the narratives, these are described as ‘peak experiences’; impact of stress as a precipitator of symptoms or illness, as an ongoing aggravator of the chronic illness, or as a factor in overall coping with the chronic illness; view of death named by all four individuals as it relates to their view of life; illness meaning, coined by two of the individuals as ‘philosophy of life.' These themes were interpreted in terms of their implications for therapeutic relationships with people with disabilities and chronic illnesses.
The purpose of this study was to explore the use of narrative as a tool to understand the experience of chronic illness. The study is phenomenological in nature, using elements of grounded theory and social constructionism to consider the data collected. As examples of the issues raised using the narrative approach, the paper describes four themes that were pervasive in the first-person accounts of these individuals: emotional reaction to the diagnosis, because of both the form and content in the narratives, these are described as ‘peak experiences’; impact of stress as a precipitator of symptoms or illness, as an ongoing aggravator of the chronic illness, or as a factor in overall coping with the chronic illness; view of death named by all four individuals as it relates to their view of life; illness meaning, coined by two of the individuals as ‘philosophy of life.' These themes were interpreted in terms of their implications for therapeutic relationships with people with disabilities and chronic illnesses.
Subject terms:
life story work, life style, medical social work, medical social workers, long term conditions, physical disabilities, self-concept, social work, therapies, therapy and treatment, death, diagnosis, dying, emotions;
Student text book which uses a social problems approach to social welfare and social work in the United States. Includes chapters on: social work as a profession and career; poverty and public welfare; emotional problems and counselling; family services; sexuality; drug abuse; crime and juvenile delinquency; education and school social work; racism and equal rights; sexism; older people; medical social services; physical and mental disabilities; and social work practice.
Student text book which uses a social problems approach to social welfare and social work in the United States. Includes chapters on: social work as a profession and career; poverty and public welfare; emotional problems and counselling; family services; sexuality; drug abuse; crime and juvenile delinquency; education and school social work; racism and equal rights; sexism; older people; medical social services; physical and mental disabilities; and social work practice.
Subject terms:
hospital social work, medical social work, medical social workers, mental health, older people, physical disabilities, poverty, racial equality, racism, school social work, school social workers, social welfare, social work, social care provision, social work theories, students, young offenders, anti-social behaviour, benefits, counselling, crime, drug misuse, families, equal opportunities, gender;
hospital social work, medical social work, medical social workers, looked after children, mental health problems, mental health services, multidisciplinary services, offenders, older people, physical disabilities, private foster care, residential care, residential child care, registers, social work, social work education, social worker-service user relationships, terminal illness, user participation, transracial adoption, transracial foster care, visual impairment, youth justice, anti-discriminatory practice, black and minority ethnic people, case records, care homes, child protection, community care, children, employment, equal opportunities;